Month: January 2020

Sarah’s DNA talk

The majority of the meeting was used for Sarah Lunnon’s DNA training. This two hour workshop explored what makes us XR, what we do and how we operate.

It was an enlightening evening helping us all to understand how XR strategy is evolving around the same key goals, but with renewed focus.

One part of Sarah’s talk covered the pillars of power that holds up society and how we as a mass of people can topple monolithic power. We also started to look at where everyone in the country sits on a spectrum of support for us. By understanding the messages that will engage people who passively support us or passively oppose us we can swing their support towards us (see the image above).

The talk was an important renewal of why we’re doing what we do, for anyone that needs a refresher.

If you missed this session, there will be another on Saturday 8th Feb 2 to 4pm at Springhill Cohousing, Commonhouse, GL5 1TN. Please note there is no parking at this venue.

XR messaging & strategy 

Continuing the messaging theme. We also heard about how Marc Lopation, Skeena Rathor and Rupert Read have prepared a pamphlet called Rushing the ‘Emergency’ – story and vision for XR in 2020. You can view a copy of this and understand the latest progress on Strategy here.

Also I’ve added the latest XR Southwest newsletter to the website to give you some more context. 

Next weeks meeting

Don’t forget next weeks meeting will be for working groups, so come ready with those action ideas.

Announcements

• Sophie has started working at The Beacon four days a week. She’s there to help with any activist events. She’s actively working on planning what we’d like to achieve as a community in 2020. There are over 200 activists group in Stroud, and she’s hoping to help them connect and work together better. The Beacon exists as a resource for us to use at activists. Please note Sophie generally works at the Beacon Monday to Thursdays during office hours. 

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Now, dear rebels. I’m off to support my family in Dominica for a couple of weeks. Hopefully there will be someone who will help you with updates while I am gone, otherwise, I’ll see you in mid February. 

Today’s meeting was a great overview of what we’ve accomplished as a group in the past year but also what we’re going to be doing in the next year. 

Our next meeting (29th January) will feature DNA training, focusing on what XR is, who we are and what that means for us as a local group. 

The meeting after that (5th February) will be a working group meeting so get ready with those big ideas. 

Continue reading “Meeting notes for 22nd January” →

Here’s a message from James:

XR weekly meeting is at The Old Convent again today.

6:30 pm food (which Jane has volunteered to prepare for us) and gathering 7:00 pm start.

Red and Kat will facilitate the meeting which will be in two parts with Senan, reflecting on the huge impact XR has had on the climate debate during its first year, and look at where we are now in building a new structure for impact.

Kat and Red will follow this by drawing strength and inspiration from the Regenerative Action Cycle as we reflect on our own place in the movement and connect with others where they are at

See you there,

James

Thank you to all of you to came to our meeting, we now have some firmer plans for 2020 which is exciting, more on that after the announcements.

Announcements

• We had an invitation from a chap (John) lives in Stroud wants to do a climate emergency music event with an outreach focus in March. John has organised many of the musical gigs for XR in London. The idea being for there to be a gig in Stroud. Date and venue to be confirmed. Crucially, we are looking to people that are interested in helping with this event. Please contact us if you’re able to help John with this. 
• Stroud District Council has a draft plan for consultation. It’s crucial that you provide feedback on what our council should be doing for or local environment.
• XR Samba Stroud have a group practice on alternating Tuesdays and Fridays. I can confirm that the band is sounding good and is a lot of fun. Please join their Facebook group if you’d like to get involved. Or you can speak to Andy about joining the WhatsApp group. 
• Contacting our MP – if you wish to engage our new MP with environmental issues, please do so as a private individual rather than on behalf of XR. She has been advised to ignore XR enquiries.
• There will be a Spring fair organised by Landwise Saturday 25th April. Additionally, there will be events leading up to Earth Day on 22nd April which will mark the declaration of Stroud as an Earth Protector Community. 

Next rebellion

The consultation on the next rebellion date has concluded. We’re waiting on the results on this. More news in our upcoming meetings when we have confirmed dates.

Working groups

Broke out into working groups to discuss the ideas from last weeks meeting. The idea being to agree what we’d like to progress and start up working groups for Stroud. Here are the areas of focus that we agreed:

Fossil fuel divestment (targeting banks, education, arts, pension funds etc)

Transport (inc expansions of roads and airports and car free cities)

Media (tell the truth, highlighting media bias, targetting distribution centres, climate column)

Community Outreach – (inc earthstrike, urban farming, working with other groups)

Strategy Change – Constructive not disruptive (connected to community outreach, positive community engagement}