Camp Codex
As part of our struggle for climate and agriculture justice and against the capitalistic system, we want to shape our actions and communities in the same way as the future we are fighting for. Together we want to take responsibility to create a nice and cosy camp with an atmosphere of transparency, collectiveness and support. We recognize that hierarchical and suppressive structures of society are present everywhere, also in our movements. We want to challenge these structures collectively to make our community and the climate and agriculture movements accessible to more people. We should strive to live the alternatives and develop new ways of living, working and dreaming together.
We want the Climate and Agriculture Justice Camp to be a collective space where we can grow, learn and get stronger together. We would like everyone to be able to participate in the structure and maintenance of the camp, therefore everyone is welcome to join a working group. We have developed this codex, as a kind of guideline for how we want our collective space to be.
We are inspired by the struggles of peasant movements and we see Free the Soil as part of a movement for a better food system based on agroecology and food sovereignty. Free the Soil is a campaign made by farmers, garden-enthusiasts, climate justice activist and people dreaming of a free soil. And we hope and encourage everyone who see them self in this to join the camp.
Awareness team: During the camp and action there will be an awareness team and tent. The purpose and aim of the team and tent is to create a safer environment and space for everybody at the camp. The team exist for anyone experiencing difficulties. That could be if you experience individuals or groups that take up too much space or make the room uncomfortable for you or anybody else – please come and share your experience. Or if you just feel sad and need comfort and a calm place to hang out. The role of the awareness team is to offer listening and respectful and confidential support. This can also include being the third part in a conflict – listening, observing and help communicating, the awareness team will never take action against your will. The tent will be open every day and when closed there will always be somebody to contact.
Bodies: All bodies matter and we want the camp to be able for everybody to participate in, that said, it will be a primitive camp, so we are not sure we will succeed in making it accessible for everybody. If you have any concerns please get in contact with us.
Clothes: Not everybody has the privileges that they can take of their top without getting unwanted attention or feel comfortable with other people’s nakedness. We therefore encourage everyone to keep their clothes on when participating in collective meetings, talks and workshops during the camp.
Collective living: At the camp we are going to be living closely together. We will come from different social movements and political spectra. Therefore we need to be extra conscious on the spaces we create around ourselves and respect each other’s boundaries both verbally and physically.
Daily tasks: The camp is self organized, that means everybody has to help out and take responsibility for creating a nice camp. Making food, cleaning toilets and making the infrastructure run smoothly is just as important as scouting, being first row or painting banners. All things have to be done to make the camp and action happen!
Economy: We will cover the expenses related to creating an amazing camp collectively. By arrival everyone is asked for donations for the camp. Once the economy-team has the full budget overview a suggested amount will be announced. The donation is voluntary and economy should not keep anyone from taking part in the camp.
Family space: We want the camp to be accessible to families with children and we hope to make a cosy family space to hang out at. We appreciate many different types of contribution to the camp.
Food: You decide what you eat – and at the camp everyone has the opportunity to eat collectively as the community kitchens, Le Sabot and Die Maulwürfe, prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner. Both groups make organic and vegan food on the basis of donations. If you have special needs e.g. because of allergies or food intolerances please give us a short note and write to camp-freethesoil(at)riseup.net (PGP) in advance and come to the info tent when you arrive at the camp.
Gender: Do not assume that you know another person’s gender and prefered pronouns. Some people are made feel uncomfortable if asked for their gender/pronoun. If you are not sure, avoid using a pronoun by just using name or listen to what other uses. If you have any questions about this, feel free to ask the awareness team.
Info-tent: All practical information about the camp such as infrastructure, program and tasks can be found at the infotent.
Language: The camp will be bilingual German and English. Be aware that many people might not speak German and many might not speak English. Always ask if there is need for translation and remember to speak slow and clear – for many will the language not be their mother tongue. Furthermore can the use of highly specified terms, implied references or slang also be a way of excluding people from a conversation, so be aware of the way you speak and always take breaks and listen to what others say.
Phones: Let’s try to be together in the real world and give our attention to the people we are surrounded by! We would like to keep our common areas phone-free – then we also diminish the probability of being surveilled. However, even if we avoid phones, surveillance is probable so be aware about what you say and to whom. Hopefully the camp will have an electricity and charging area – then you can go there to get your phone-news-social-media-and-messages-fix.
Pictures: Remember to ask before you take pictures of people and situations – and always ask explicitly if you may publicate the pictures, before uploading to social medias.
Plenum: Collective information and decisions will be discussed and decided upon on daily plenums.
Respect: We come from many different background, have different privileges and possibilities. Let’s respect, listen and meet each other across class, age, background, gender and city-country-life.
Safety: At mass actions people often come in groups, among other things for safety reasons. Such groups might have decided on stuff they do not share with others. Likewise do people often use other names to not as easily be reasonised. Respect people’s choice of safety and when talking about actions do not tell what other people do.
Smoking, Alcohol and mind altering substances: On the camp we wish to create a safer space for people to engage in workshops and actions. We want to be aware of each other, learn, develop ideas and grow stronger together. Please help with staying focused on politics. We encourage that participation in collective activities such as workshops, meetings and all actions are done sober. The bar will serve alcohol from around dinner time, please limit the intake of other mind altering substances to this time and area as well. We want people to be aware of their neighbours and their needs. Not everyone likes someone smoking next to them. Go to the designated areas and ask before you use. It’s everyone’s own decision how and what they use, let’s respect each other and make space for everybody.
Trash: Let’s take collective responsibility for our trash, recycle everything that can be recycled and leave no trace.
Whiteness: The climate justice movement in northern Europe is generally a very white space. Let’s challenge this white norm and work to make our movement more diverse. We need to work with the internalized racism in the movement to make it a space for all people. That means for example being aware that the way white people acts can be a form of cultural appropriation and make other people feel uncomfortable. Furthermore it means self and collective education on whiteness and privileges and making opportunities for creating more B*POC spaces within our movement.
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