Earth First Summer Gathering

The EF! summer gathering happend near Derby between the 4th and the 8th of August this year.  To bring together eco-activists from all around Great Britan. The event was a sucessful as well as being one of the largest EF! gatherings in years.

Previous Coverage: Set-up

Recent EF! actions: Norfolk Shell to Sea, Manchester Peat Bog

Click on a thumbnail for a slideshow view

EF! has a lofty but simple aim: defence of the planet with no compromise based on strict non-hierarchical anarchist principals.  What this means practically is that everyone at the gathering takes on responsibilities such as gate/help point, chopping vegetables, child care, etc.  This is not done grudgingly as the gathering is made up of people who realise that a movement without parents, food and support is not sustainable and are happy to put the time in to make it work in true anarchist DIY style.

To quote from their website, "EF! is not a cohesive group or campaign, but a convenient banner for people who share similar philosophies to work under.  Whether you think of EF! as a movement, a network, an idea or simply a name to use for actions, get involved - you are Earth First!".  The EF! gathering provides an important space for people with skills, ideas and energy to share these.  The gathering has a few generations of eco-activists and provides an invaluable repository of information.  Each day the seven workshop spaces ran from 10-6 with a wide range.  On the practical side there were bike maintenance, iron forging and knot tying skill-shares.  On the direct action side there were night-navigation, public order situations and arrest/rights info share workshops.  There were also workshops challenging behaviour and conceptions considered normal in society and seeing how destructive they can be such as burn-out and trauma, how men are confronting patriarchy and an introduction to consensus.  This was also peppered with numerous talks about different struggles and achievements in the eco movement (full program).

EF! as network is very much focused on the future but some context is relevant. EF! in the UK started in '91 so next year will be its twentieth birthday.  EF! not only seeded other actions such as Reclaim the Streets but also was used as a banner under which actions were carried out.  Until the Welsh gathering in 2006 there was an action as well as workshop space.  These stopped as they became a police magnet as well as being too large a burden for the gathering collective, which helps with the logistics of the gathering.  After the road protests EF! had a low point and lost some focus but it has become more relevant than ever with the growing awareness of climate change.  Now EF! is rarely used as a banner but the network still exists.

Asking the question, "Is EF! still relevant?" with larger, more high profile groups such as limate Camp, Plane Stupid and Transition Towns is not understanding their relationships.  EF! is relevant and increasingly so in supporting the backbone of the direct action network.  Climate Camp had its roots in EF! and started with the same ethos and focus.  In gaining mass appeal it has, to an extent, compromised on some of its initial ideals to gain wider support.  EF! came from a movement based on struggle and has maintained its initial ideals.

 

Links:

Earth First Gathering Website

Earth First UK Site