<div>thurs 5th good for me,</div>
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<div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 9:52 AM, Mark Barrett <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:marknbarrett@googlemail.com">marknbarrett@googlemail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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<div class="im">> i think we should schedule a CRD meeting specifically designed to work on<br>> producing something like an intro flyer<br><br></div>seconded :-)<br><br>one eve next week? how about thurs 5th nov, at the royal festival<br>
hall? or another day.. ?<br>only eve i can't do is wed 4th<br><br>mark<br><br><br><br>2009/10/28 James Holland <<a href="mailto:james@dogmanet.org">james@dogmanet.org</a>>:<br>
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<div class="h5">, rather than more general<br>> discussion?<br>><br>> j<br>><br>> On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 9:11 PM, Mark Barrett <<a href="mailto:marknbarrett@googlemail.com">marknbarrett@googlemail.com</a>><br>
> wrote:<br>>><br>>> Hi Barry & Everyone<br>>><br>>> Thanks for your email. Please do send through what you feel we need to<br>>> read; any pointers on necessary mediatory structures, most welcome. As it<br>
>> happens this topic came up at a meeting last night..<br>>><br>>> But first, just to be clear, the CRD strategy mail you've responded to was<br>>> primarily about 'real democracy cells'. So, a message to<br>
>> encourage grassroots campaigners to consider (1) these issues, and (2) the<br>>> possibility of a wider alignment. Essentially in their local groups<br>>> and communities and, by way of challenge, in response to state-managed (ie<br>
>> council-run) local fora.<br>>><br>>> But if this comes to fruition, mediatory structures (by which I am<br>>> guessing you mean the nature of our constitution as a campaigning group)<br>>> will, presumably, become more important? But for now, at such an early day?<br>
>> At this point, I'm just thinking: er, let's just get a leaflet about real<br>>> democratic decision making and the need to form local cells sorted, and<br>>> then (a) do it in our local communities (b) spread the word to others of<br>
>> like radical mind and (c) see what response we get.<br>>><br>>> That said, as you know, I do think a discussion about structures is<br>>> important.<br>>><br>>> And it seems to me that this breaks down into two strands, both of which<br>
>> need to take place in my opinion on the Project 2012 list so that the CRD<br>>> list can remain low traffic and centre solely on the real democracy<br>>> campaigning side of things.<br>>><br>>> 1st, and most closely related to the CRD strategy is the question of our<br>
>> own organisational constitution, which is I think the one you raise.<br>>> Personally I would welcome this conversation, but let's use Project 2012<br>>> where posting is free and easy.<br>>><br>
>> 2nd, is the idea of developing a programme of ideas about structures<br>>> around which we can realistically visualise a just, democratic world<br>>> operating. While not the same as (and no substitute for) getting organised<br>
>> in our local neighbourhoods, such a programme could be used in a variety of<br>>> useful ways. For example as a backdrop to an event (eg some of us are<br>>> planning a Real Democracy / Third Sector / Transformation of<br>
>> Culture event, for Feb 2010) or in press work around some form of direct<br>>> action, as was case with the now defunct New Sovereignty blog at the London<br>>> G20. We could, for example, be in need of a set of principles / propaganda<br>
>> / or whatever if we did demos at town halls, or the GLA. If we are to build<br>>> a strong sense of what we are about in the media establishment that is what<br>>> the journalists are looking for or else they will paint us as a bunch of<br>
>> desparadoes with no political maturity involved in purely gesture<br>>> politics. Or indeed, it could eve form an electoral manifesto.<br>>><br>>> Anyway, following this, last night a discussion ensued about the idea of<br>
>> us all writing a grassroots manifesto. Why not, said Robin.. So with that in<br>>> mind I've set up a wiki space for this, here is a place where all the voices<br>>> who desire can contribute and maybe make a nice patchwork<br>
>> quilt: <a href="http://crdmanifesto.pbworks.com/" target="_blank">http://crdmanifesto.pbworks.com/</a><br>>><br>>> So, in the spirit of Jocelyn's excellent words (which somehow didn't come<br>
>> to my inbox, but thankfully I found them, by chance when trawling the<br>>> Project 2012 googlegroup archive) the "..idea of a third force, real<br>>> democracy, local community based politics can include a much deeper desire,<br>
>> love of, passion for equalising" I agree with that sentiment 100%, so let's<br>>> all get stuck in..!<br>>><br>>> All ideas very welcome although there can be no guarantees what will<br>
>> become of them. Suggest intellect, emotion, history, desire and the<br>>> unconscious : whatever works to get people interested, engaged, inspired,<br>>> let's just tap into it all?<br>>><br>
>> Mark<br>>> 2009/10/27 Barry Fineberg <<a href="mailto:barry@fineberg.co.uk">barry@fineberg.co.uk</a>><br>>>><br>>>> Hi Mark,<br>>>><br>>>> Your strategy resonates but sadly I am confident that without some<br>
>>> disciplined framework you are poised on the threshold of an unmanageable<br>>>> complexity. My response of 08.09.09 offered what I believe to be a naturally<br>>>> ordered approach which, however, may need further graphic evidence for its<br>
>>> better understanding. I shall try to put this together asap.<br>>>><br>>>> To recap, I felt that 'natural spatial disciplines----must be brought to<br>>>> bear on current disorder'. Your view instead was ' try to push on all doors,<br>
>>> and trust that truth will always win'. A noble but wholly impracticable<br>>>> sentiment I regret to say. The 'doors' are virtually infinite and,<br>>>> notwithstanding common aspirational values, such multiplicity of issues<br>
>>> will I fear defy coherent, practical coordination in the absence of<br>>>> appropriate mediatory structures.<br>>>><br>>>> Best wishes,<br>>>><br>>>> Barry Fineberg.<br>
>>><br>>>><br>>>> ---- Original Message -----<br>>>><br>>>> From: Mark Barrett<br>>>> To: <a href="mailto:campaignforrealdemocracy@lists.aktivix.org">campaignforrealdemocracy@lists.aktivix.org</a> ;<br>
>>> <a href="mailto:project2012@googlegroups.com">project2012@googlegroups.com</a><br>>>> Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 1:37 PM<br>>>> Subject: [Campaignforrealdemocracy] crd strategy<br>>>> Having met with local colleagues yesterday, I want to draw together<br>
>>> some of what has emerged from picnics, meetings and discussions on lists and<br>>>> elsewhere. Do people agree with the tenor of this? If so, I will draw up<br>>>> a brief leaflet including these points for distribution.<br>
>>><br>>>> The short/medium term aims of CRD are to :<br>>>><br>>>> (1) link different individuals and groups working at the local level<br>>>> around the concept of real democracy<br>
>>> (2) promote real democracy as equality via horizontal, inclusive<br>>>> consensus-decision making, in groups & starting at the neighbourhood level<br>>>> (3) encourage groups to connect for an alternative, democratic society<br>
>>> locally, nationally and internationally<br>>>><br>>>> The strategy (so far identified) to make this happen is to offer advice<br>>>> / support / encouragement / materials to individuals and groups to start CRD<br>
>>> cells in local boroughs, wards, neighbourhoods (here and ideally<br>>>> also abroad).<br>>>><br>>>> Presumably by:<br>>>><br>>>> (1) connecting with like-minds in local area, whether by advertising for<br>
>>> a new group or via already organised groups such as Transition Towns, NO2ID,<br>>>> LA21, Community Development Network, Housing Co-ops,<br>>>> Residents/Tenants Associations, anti-tescos campaigns or other<br>
>>> (2) focusing on council run meetings operating at the smallest (ie ward<br>>>> or, as in my case three ward) level and developing the group as a strategic<br>>>> challenge to the non-democratic structure of the council run meetings<br>
>>> (3) local independent meetings as CRD/ CRD aligned groups<br>>>> (4) considering in the medium term the possibility of decentralised<br>>>> simultaneous actions - eg militant picnics at town halls - to raise<br>
>>> awareness, recruit and get positive media coverage..<br>>>><br>>>> And at the London/wider level we also have the possibilities of :<br>>>><br>>>> (1) taking up the offer of a regular monthly CRD slot at the Peace not<br>
>>> War sessions at Dalston's Passing Clouds, as a way of sharing<br>>>> info, spreading campaign literature and connecting with the wider public<br>>>> (2) developing regular CRD meetings and strategic partnerships<br>
>>> (with members of the 21st<br>>>> Century Network (<a href="http://www.meetup.com/21stcenturynetwork" target="_blank">www.meetup.com/21stcenturynetwork</a> see for example meeting<br>>>> on Dec 2nd ), the Community Sector Coalition<br>
>>> <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<br>>>> possibly others such as NCIA, Transition Towns, Climate Camp and others.<br>
>>> (3) using the web / live streaming / other tech possibilities for<br>>>> meetings<br>>>> (4) more picnics!<br>>>> (5) connecting with other groups nationally and internationally on line<br>
>>> to see if they would like to join forces under the same banner<br>>>><br>>>> What do people think? good, bad, indifferent? are people up for doing it<br>>>> / getting involved? any other ideas?<br>
>>><br>>>> Mark<br>>>><br>>>> ________________________________<br>>>><br>>>> _______________________________________________<br>>>> Campaignforrealdemocracy mailing list<br>
>>> <a href="mailto:Campaignforrealdemocracy@lists.aktivix.org">Campaignforrealdemocracy@lists.aktivix.org</a><br>>>> <a href="https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/campaignforrealdemocracy" target="_blank">https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/campaignforrealdemocracy</a><br>
>><br>>><br>>><br>>> --<br>>> "We hear men speaking for us of new laws strong and sweet /Yet is there no<br>>> man speaketh as we speak in the street.”<br>>><br>>> _______________________________________________<br>
>> Campaignforrealdemocracy mailing list<br>>> <a href="mailto:Campaignforrealdemocracy@lists.aktivix.org">Campaignforrealdemocracy@lists.aktivix.org</a><br>>> <a href="https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/campaignforrealdemocracy" target="_blank">https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/campaignforrealdemocracy</a><br>
>><br>><br>><br>><br>> --<br>><br>><br>><br>><br>> James Holland<br>><br><br><br><br>--<br>"We hear men speaking for us of new laws strong and sweet /Yet is<br>there no man speaketh as we speak in the street.”<br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><br><br><br><br>James Holland <br>