'Dissent! A Network of Resistance' 7-8 Feb

Mike, 10.12.2003 10:40

A new network has been launched, and so a new experiment in collective leadership begins.

“Developing new ways of working together, new forms of relationships, is a way to get rid of leaders. As opposed to getting rid of leadership which is a learnable skill not a person” ( ‘Think Globally, Act Locally, Be Personally’, Nottingham Earth First! 1998 ).

Hi, I've pasted below edited minutes of an exciting meeting I went to on 29th-30th November, which launched an experiment in libertarian, participatory and open organising. The next meeting will be 7-8th February, open to anybody willing to work within the PGA hallmarks ( www.agp.org ) to help mobilise against the G8 in 2005.
More publicity will follow, as will website details etc..

MINUTES – 29th-30th November 2003, Nottingham

SUMMARY OF MAIN POINTS
We want to build a mobilisation against the G8 based on the PGA Hallmarks, rooted in the local, which involves autonomous mobilisations and goes beyond the G8.

The name we settled on was:
DISSENT – a Network of Resistance, against the G8

 Next meeting: Sat 7th and Sun 8th February, [ venue to be announced ]

WHAT WE WANT
We want to build a mobilisation against the G8 based on the PGA Hallmarks, rooted in the local, that involves autonomous mobilisations and goes beyond the G8.

We should be aware of the potential for dishonesty/SWP-style front group-ism.
If we are trying to get people to get involved in a social movement we should be clear about that and not publicise it as a simple mobilisation for one action.
We should be clear ourselves about what we are doing so as not to mislead anyone else.

WHAT WE WANT:
 We want something lasting.
 To network across libertarian, anti-capitalist groups
 Learn from it
 Form links with other countries
 We want to be stronger because of the G8. The G8 is interesting in the long term as a hook for mobilising social movement energy in the UK.
 Hopefully after the G8 ideas will have shifted.
 We are one part of a process. Our part should be the most inspiring.

WHAT WE DON”T WANT:
Lots of people in prison and disillusion and embarrassment at having spent so much time working on one thing that was crap. 10 months of wasted effort. Come out of it no stronger, just pissed off.

NAME
After many hours of discussion we settled on:
DISSENT – a Network of Resistance, against the G8
Local groups are, of course, free to call themselves what they want, and claim to be part of DISSENT – a Network of Resistance, against the G8 etc…

Other names suggestions included:
RAGE (Resistance Against the G Eight)
G8 my hamster
After G8 mints
Activ8
Devi8
Alien8
Gate
Germin8 (to Termin8 the G8)
Resistance Network
(E)NGAGE Network of Groups Against the G Eight
LARGE (Local Autonomous Resistance to the G Eight)
Rebel Alliance
Network for Resistance
Direct Action Network
Catalyse
Who 8 all the pies?

THE NETWORK
Is open to any people/groups that subscribe to the PGA hallmarks.
Should be an open access network – i.e. it will have open access points for people to get involved, and its workings will be transparent.
Groups within that Network will be autonomous but linked together through communication structures and to a certain extent a common identity.

LOCAL GROUPS
Should be -- at least -- a contact point where people can get information
Ideally this should be linked to a space (social centre, bookshop etc.) that people can come to and get information/get involved.
Should have non-IT based points of contact (e.g. meetings, postal address, social space etc.)
Should be autonomous to do what they want BUT should be linked to the overall network via communications links (newsletter, national meetings and e-lists)

NATIONAL MEETINGS
Should be fairly regular (Need to set date for next one)
Should not be the only way of keeping involved in the Network. Too much travelling!
Should be bottom-up report back sessions from local groups and working groups, NOT a decision-making politburo style body.

Points that need to be dealt with at this meeting include:
 Reports backs from working groups
 Agreeing to the website and publicity materials
 Media policy
 Talking about the actual G8 and mobilisation

WORKING GROUPS
Should be responsible to the overall network via communications structures.
Working Groups should feed back to every national meeting (if no-one can go to the meeting they should send written report)

GROUPS SET UP WERE:
 International Networking (includes engaging with the PGA Conference last 2 weeks in July, Belgrade)
 A group to plan solidarity events around the G8 in US, Summer 2004
eg. Direct Action Camp/creative direct action/Counter Conference/NoBorder Camp etc.
 Newsletter
 Website
 Agit-Prop (Propaganda and Publicity)
 Pamphlet – Lessons from past mobilisations
 Research Group (info about G8, where happening etc.)
 Security Culture pamphlet
 Education/roadshow
 Fundraising
 Meetings Process and Structures
 E-mail communications
 Engaging with the 2004 European Social Forum

MEDIA
There will be a lot of media attention. We should have a media policy. This is a big discussion. We will have it at the February meeting. Until then there is a statement from the Network:
ANYONE WHO CLAIMS TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS NETWORK IS LYING.

FOCUS ON THE G8
There was very little space given to talking about the mobilisation itself:
 What do we want to do?
 What groups do we want to be linking with?
 International networking?

This will need further discussion at the February meeting.

Homepage:: http://www.agp.org