Peace News Winter Gathering: 15-17 January Nottingham

People from across the spectrum of the British peace movement are meeting for a weekend of exploration, celebration and empowerment – learning from other movements, struggling with challenging issues, and creating greater cohesion and solidarity in a segmented peace movement.

Workshops will be reflective (learning from recent activist initiatives in Gaza, Copenhagen and Calais), strategic (for example, developing plans to counter the war in Afghanistan) and practical (planning for actions in Nottingham itself and at Aldermaston the following month).

Decades of activist experience will be represented, along with fresh faces and new blood. The gathering is organised by Peace News, in conjunction with Nottingham Student Peace Movement and Notts Anti-Militarism.

Action
The gathering will be followed on Monday 18 January by a mass nonviolent direct action against the arms trade, requested by and organised by participants in the Gathering. The action is not under the control or direction of Peace News, and will be finalised in a meeting that takes place after the gathering has closed.

Origins
Peace News Winter Gathering 2010 has developed out of Peace News Summer Camp 2009, which created a real sense of liberation for participants. The gathering is a space of mutual respect in which activists from different groups and movements, who hold diverse views on fundamental issues, can share experiences, information and insights, and can learn more about each other.

Practicals
The weekend as a whole costs £10-£40 depending on income. Please book on 020 7278 3344 or www.peacenewsgathering.info and we will send map and full programme. Breakfast, lunch and supper (vegan) will be provided by the fantastic Veggies (based in the Sumac Centre, and featured in PN 2514) at the very reasonable price of £4-£6 per day depending on income. Crashpad accommodation is available nearby. If you need a bed, please contact 020 7278 3344 as soon as possible.

Children
Children under 14 come free. There will be a kids’ space during the gathering. Please let us know when booking how many children you are bringing and of what ages.

Prayer space
There are several mosques and churches within walking distance of the gathering.

How to get there
Registration will be at the Sumac Centre, 245 Gladstone Street, Nottingham NG7 6HX. Talks and workshops will be in different spaces in and around the Sumac Centre. All the spaces have step-free access (the Sumac Centre’s step-free access is from Beech Avenue).

From Nottingham train station, it’s 15 minutes by tram to Beaconsfield Street and then 10 minutes walk to the Sumac Centre. If you’re coming by car, there is no parking at the Sumac Centre, but there is some free parking in the nearby streets.

Contact
020 7278 3344 (in advance); 07980 748 555/07846 584897 (on the weekend); promos@peacenews.info; www.peacenewsgathering.info

Events
Friday 15 January
7.15pm. “How can we stop the wars?” Pre-gathering public meeting. With EDO Decommissioner, PN staffers (Gabriel Carlyle, Milan Rai) and others. Get directions from Sumac Centre, 245 Gladstone St.

16-17 January
Sessions start 9.30am Sat. Ends 3.30pm Sun. £10-£40 for weekend.

Workshops
Some of the sessions at the PN Winter Gathering:

The EDO Decommissioners’ action, with a Decommissioner (see PN 2507)

Nonviolent direct action training, with the wonderful Seeds for Change collective (www.seedsforchange.org.uk)

Strategies for campaigning on Afghanistan, with PN worker Gabriel Carlyle

No Borders report on recent immigrant solidarity campaigning in Calais

Gaza Freedom March report back by participants

Participants’ report from the anti-climate change protests in Copenhagen

Anti-war art, with PN co-editor Emily Johns

Briefing on the Aldermaston blockade

Student anti-arms trade campaigning, with Campaign Against Arms Trade and Nottingham students

“Engaging with decision-makers”, with George Farebrother of the World Court Project UK and the new network NETLAP

“Prison reform”, with recently-released Hicham Yezza

“Chomsky and revolution”, with PN co-editor Milan Rai

“How to set up a housing co-op”, with Radical Routes
A complete list of workshops and talks will be on the website soon: www.peacenewsgathering.info

ACTION Notts
Sunday 17 January
MTG. 4.15pm. Planning meeting for action on Monday. Get directions from Sumac Centre, 245 Gladstone St.

Monday 18 January
ACTION. 10am. Nottingham area. Nonviolent direct action against local arms trade company. Phone 07929 123 314 on the day for location if you have not attended the planning meeting on Sunday. There are many Nottingham companies involved in the arms trade. A long list is available from the Peace News Winter Gathering website.

ACTION Brighton
Monday 18 January
ACTION. 1pm. Brighton area. “Remember Gaza”. Wear black. EDO MBM/ITT manufacture some of the weapons components that devastated so many lives in Gaza. On the anniversary of the final day of Operation Cast Lead, we will come together to remember the people of Gaza. More details, including the meeting place, will be published closer to the date. Organised by Smash EDO. For transport to Brighton or if you can offer/need accommodation please contact: 07538 093 930 or via web www.smashedo.org.uk