[ssf] Agenda and Minutes of last meeting for g8-Sheffield meeting, 16th March

Chris Malins chrismalins at gmail.com
Thu Mar 10 17:28:57 GMT 2005 

Dear Cuthbert,

This statement is not intended as a statement to the media or as a 
justification to the media. We are sending out a message that we 
represent local people ready to support actions against the G8 in 
Sheffield. This clearly delineates those actions which the group is 
willing to support, and which no member of the group feels uncomfortable 
with, and conversely those actions which we wil not support. It is not 
intended as a condemnation of any actions by other individuals or 
groups, although I admit I have slipped slightly into auto-pilot and 
that it could be read that way.

Anyone who wishes to support actions including property violence or 
anything else is free to do so, but the facilities provided by 
G8-Sheffield will not be made available for these purposes. We judge 
groups not by their philosophies, but by their specific intentions while 
in Sheffield.

It is something that members of this group felt was important, and which 
a firm decision was made to implement. It will be attached to the 
group's webspace, and to the call to action.

If anyone would like to reword it at all, be my guest.

Chris

noone noone wrote:
>  I dont understand the need for a 'statement of non-violence', i find 
> that all it does is help the media create some sort of division between 
> the different groups of protestors.  Surely it is up the individual to 
> decide how non-violent they are and what constitutes violence and 
> non-violence.  For example for some people damage of property is ok for 
> others it isnt, it doesnt mean that you have to write a statement - 
> which by the way will end up being used by the media to create a 
> division between yourselves and other possible groups of protestors.
> 
>  Would it not be far better that instead of talking to the media about 
> wether of not you are going to be violent you should talk to the media 
> about wether or not the G8 are going to give the aid they promised and 
> stop making war in far off lands.
> 
> from
> cuthbert
> 
> 
>> From: Chris Malins <chrismalins at gmail.com>
>> To: g8-sheffield at lists.aktivix.org
>> CC: SSF <ssf at lists.aktivix.org>
>> Subject: [ssf] Agenda and Minutes of last meeting for g8-Sheffield 
>> meeting, 16th March
>> Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 16:55:58 +0000
>>
>> G8-Sheffield 7.30pm, Rutland Arms, Brown Lane, Wednesday 16th March 2005
>>
>> I am going to suggest a basic agenda for the meeting on Wednesday 
>> based on the sort of action points we took away last time. Please read 
>> through this in advance, as several points are predicated on people 
>> having put some thought in between the meetings.
>>
>> AGENDA:
>>
>> Start 7.30pm
>>
>> 0) Minutes of the last meeting, to agree. Agree facilitator for 
>> meeting, and appoint at least one minute taker.
>>
>> 1) To agree a specific statement of non-violence. I will suggest: "The 
>> Sheffield G8 group stands in opposition to the violence perpetrated in 
>> our names by the governments which constitute the G8. We set ourselves 
>> against it, and to support all those who are against it, whether it is 
>> the explicit violence of war or the implicit violence of destroying 
>> civil liberties and enforced poverty. Because we stand opposed to 
>> violence, we will support in any way we can any action, by any group, 
>> about and against the G8 which uses non-violent means to achieve aims 
>> consistent with our philosophy. However, we will not involve ourselves 
>> in any use of violence for any purpose, nor will we lend our support 
>> to any action that intends to use violence as a tool."
>>
>> Hopefully this can go on the wiki for any amendment desired before 
>> Wednesday, after which we should consider it binding.
>>
>> 2) Suggestion of venues for a convergence centre. It seems to be 
>> generally agreed that providing a social and indymedia convergence 
>> centre at the time of the G8 meeting is an excellent way for local 
>> people to support other campaiging groups. With this in mind, please 
>> come armed with suggested venues, considering: legality, size, 
>> availablity of power, internet and cooking facilities. From this 
>> meeting, I hope to action point someone to put the wheels in motion, 
>> and take serious steps towards having such a facility booked.
>>
>> 3) Ideas for a street party. More ideas, and crystallisation of key 
>> ideas and aims for a street party/protest event. Again, consideration 
>> of possible locations, but also of the degree of flexibility we want.
>>
>> 4)Amp to feed back on legal support issues. Do we need a space/house 
>> to offer as a legal support centre for attendees. Bear in mind that 
>> legal support may go beyond the length of the conference. Can/should 
>> we arrange training etc?
>>
>> 5) Other support for attendees. Accommodation etc. Providing central 
>> access to key information via the internet (SSF wiki/ G8-Sheffield 
>> homepage, as and when it is activated?).
>>
>> 6) Plans of other groups. If anyone can report back about any 
>> published plans/ideas from other organisations, it will give us a much 
>> better idea of who we should look to contact, what support groups 
>> might appreciate and how we can join our efforts. Could include things 
>> like Critical Mass.
>>
>> 7) Time and place for next meeting. Accessible venue for these 
>> meetings. Is pub venue an issue, do we have any suggestions? Related 
>> business.
>>
>> 8) Any other business.
>>
>> To finish by 9.15pm
>>
>> This meeting should look to generate action points to be taken away, 
>> and volunteers to action them. I would suggest a further meeting in ~ 
>> 3weeks time.
>>
>> Minutes of the last meeting.
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: [ssf] corrected (03) Draft Minutes
>> Date: Fri, 04 Mar 2005 12:37:13 +0000
>> From: eironeia <amparo2yo at telefonica.net>
>> To: SSF <ssf at lists.aktivix.org>
>>
>>
>> Minutes draft for a meeting held on 2nd March 2005 at The R. Arms,
>> Sheffield.
>> Several hands were taking notes; this is just my version, not
>> necessarily in strict chronological order of interventions. Names are
>> fictional.
>>
>> Attending: About 12-15.
>> Absent: Some persons from BOM.
>> Facilitator: Chris.
>> Time: Two hours meeting.
>> Following a brief personal introduction, brainstorming:
>>
>>
>> *Chris on the meeting's structure: Do persons prefer that the meeting
>> has a chairperson and a formal structure?
>> This offer is declined by consensus. Meeting to have no chair, informal,
>>  following round-table structure.*
>> James: Non-violence should be a priority or basic principle. Everybody
>> agrees.
>> Peter and James:
>> Brief introduction about Sheffield g8 and its context: elections,
>> Blunkett's return; counter-ideas: united against fascism vs. united
>> against terrorism; serving ASBO's to masters, at least try first stage
>> through solicitor(s). Venue unknown. M17 Derby venue made public about
>> 17 days before their G8 event.
>> Rose and James: Greenpeace presence.
>> James and Chris about a phone camcorder being used at meeting. Daniel is
>> using laptop at some point. Openness to be a priority at this stage too.
>> *Email addresses of persons attending are written and passed round for
>> email list to be created at aktivix.org moderated by other? Chris.
>> Chris: Is g8-sheffield the list name everyone is happy with? Yes by
>> consensus.*
>>
>> Chris: On Call Out and Statement by other Chris. Agreed.
>> Mary and Adriana: let's top discussing violence vs. non-violence, since
>> non violence basic established principle.
>> Adriana distributes 6 +6 pages containing contact info for g8legal
>> support and anti-G8 timelines outside Sheffield.
>> Daniel, Chris, Peter: suggested actions along two time lines: 8th to
>> 11th June: PiP arrangements, training tent(s). Clowns and action
>> training. 11th June to end of g8: SSF and Indymedia.
>> PiP moving date of their event.
>> Convergence centre(s)required.
>> Daniel, Chris, Peter: Openness as agreed at this stage: attracts more
>> people and accountable. Minutes etc. accessible for people learning.
>> John: MEDIA. BBC look north proposals for interview(s)as rationalization
>> for direct action. To be done about April. SSF has contact details.
>> John & Chris: Previously recorded interviews and videos could be used as
>> evidence of non-guilty if need arises at a later stage.
>> Suggestion from Seeds for change: BBC could be directed to Indymedia
>> coverage. Anyway, violent group's intervention expected to be negligible.
>> Mary: Accommodation needed. Question about this being provided at
>> convergence centre(s).
>> Adriana: Establishing a legal support group to coordinate legal support
>> and prepare small legal guide.
>> Demos and street events: Lots of creative brainstorming here:
>> Barry and Critical Mass offered lots of ideas. On assumption that centre
>> will be cordoned off, standard demos are out of the question.
>> Seeds for Change: non violent reshaping and rearrangement of barriers.
>> Toy guns being sold at any shop to be shown as damaging. Need for
>> coordination: direct action. According to previous experience,
>> intervention by "violent" groups would be minimal anyway.
>> Daniel and others: a planned schedule: Going to schools, with kids
>> preparing statements to be read for G8. Help to mobilise for Scotland in
>> July. Local Dissent work. Similarly to Leeds and Manchester groups,
>> Sheffield to use dissent site.
>> Robert: Offer to create dedicated web site.
>> Seeds for change suggested draft agenda for next meeting:
>> To be discussed: Fluffy demo, Convergence centre(s), Street action,
>> Accommodation, communication. Compiling legal support stuff, Critical
>> mass ideas,
>> Mary: Suggested an existing Pedal Pusher's Group could also help at
>> street action level.
>> Final quarter of meeting: similar or same ideas second or third round.
>> Seeds of change and Mary cannot do it to next meeting. Statement or Call
>> Out(s) to include early support to other groups, since trouble expected
>> at national borders for visitors coming from France &Netherlands.
>> More brainstorming about ideal demo(s). James from Greenpeace: focal 
>> point?
>> *Chris: Anybody attending interested to prepare to take Sheffield to
>> Gleneagles July 5th-7th? Since negative answer, brainstorming on
>> Sheffield continues:*
>>
>> Issues: immigration: http://noborder.org/ . No guns for children. No Id
>> cards for children and artistic approach to protest.
>> Contact Sheffield Women's Peace Group. Songs to be composed.
>> Again: convergence centre. Access space (the more cameras, the better).
>> Comic vs. violent approaches. Benefits of the former.
>> Next meeting scheduled for same venue, same time, 16th Wednesday, to be
>> widely announced as usual.
>> Seeds for Change propose that facilitators are rotated at every meeting.
>> No other names suggested so far.
>> (Exchange of business cards and friendly conversation followed).
>>
>>
>> _____________________________________________________________
>>
>>
>> For details of Dissent! working groups and how to get involved
>> see:
>> http://www.dissent.org.uk/content/view/17/28
>>
>> For a copy of the People's Global Action hallmarks, Dissent's organising
>> starting point, see:
>> http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/pga/hallm.htm
>>
>>
>>
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