Summer Gathering gets network ready for action
Media & Communications volunteers Catherine Boycott and Stacey Griffiths report on P&Ps annual week in the countryside...
The P&P crowd at the Summer Gathering 2008
Learning Samba drumming at the Summer Gathering
Thrashing out campaigning ideas at the Summer Gathering
Image © Cristina Martinez
Hanging out around the fire at the Summer Gathering
Image © Cristina Martinez
One of the many participatory workshops at the Summer Gathering
Image © Cristina Martinez
Four days spent basking in the (intermittent) sunshine and Oxford countryside whilst engaging passionately in debates, creative workshops, bizarre street theatre and direct actions. That’s how I kick started my holidays at the (People & Planet) Summer Gathering. A week spent in the great company of inspiring, concerned and friendly students and a chance to get to know the so often referred to, but hard to actually visualise/touch — ‘network’ of People & Planet.
It felt like Fresher’s Fair all over again with names and personal info being eagerly swapped and accidentally but quickly forgotten. Workshops galore filled up our days on trade, climate change, lobbying, direct action: how to (not) get arrested, Corporate power, the media, you name it, there was a flipchart board with that name on. Excited voices spiralled across the air as young people from across the land/UK pooled ideas and (literally) rubbed heads together.
Issues continued to be fervently discussed, interspersed with laughter as we tucked into delicious vegan meals. Mealtimes were always accompanied by the amazing and unique sounds of different music, proving the chef had good taste in both food and music! The music often revived me more than a shower did for the early-ish starts.
As darkness fell, the entertainment swung fully into action. Bizarre team building games were played, wood was gathered, fires sparked into life and people chatted and laughed well into the night. One night we danced a Ceilidh vigorously and in my case very badly, provoking much hilarity amongst spectators but others seemed to be having trouble too!
Attendees describe the event themselves:
I came away from this amazing event knowing for certain now, that People & Planet are my passion and that this is our world to shape as we want it to be. I have never felt as inspired as I did after spending time with such incredible people. However cheesy this made sound it is still true, the Summer Gathering demonstrated that together, we really can take on and change the world!
As I am currently a student at sixth form college, the event ultimately inspired me to set up a group in my college. The event was truly inspirational.
A defining experience in my life, truly wonderful and inspiring
I am inspired to spread the word and campaign for change that’s for the better. The skills I have learnt will help a lot along the way.
Eye opening, challenging, it was fantastic.