The 2015 Earth First! Winter Rendezvous is Coming!

from The Earth First! Winter Rondy Organizers

Greetings from colonially occupied Chumash territory in what is known as Santa Barbara, California. Here, in this serene meeting of coastal sage scrub and mountainous chaparral, we will be hosting the 2015 Earth First! Winter Rendezvous.

We invite you to join us on the evening of February the 20th and stay til the 23rd for a weekend of workshops and trainings, strategy and fun. As I write this invitation, the western scrub jays debate each other over their foraged breakfast of seeds and insects, the acorn woodpecker drums diligently against the oak, and the exuberant call of one I have yet to identify echoes through the canyon.



All may seem to be as it should, but we know that the extraction industry has over 200 wells proposed in this county alone for fracking and other high intensity extraction. And just south of us, 19 wells are set to be fracked that closely border the Sespe Endangered Condor Sanctuary and the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge. Between these shores and the Channel Islands that protect us from storm surges, give a resting place to migrating whales and provide a home to a diversity of marine life, we suspect that offshore fracking has already begun. Here in Chumash territory, things seem to be right on the surface of things, but when you dig a little and scratch away at it’s veil of serenity, you see that these ecosystems are in great danger. Please come and help us build a movement in Santa Barbara that is capable of protecting the richness of it’s wildlife diversity and the stability of it’s ecosystems.

The workshop schedule is still in the works, but you can expect:

• EF! History and tactics

• Strategic direct action

• Santa Barbara fossil fuel infrastructure

• Threats to Sespe Creek/Condor Sanctuary

• Decolonization and collective liberation

• Know your rights

• Navigating conflict in your community

• Genetically engineered trees: a new threat

And more…contact us if you’re interested in hosting a workshop.

Some things to know before coming to the rondy:

• Come ready to camp

• Bring as much of your own water as possible

• No dogs or pets except service animals

• No drugs or alcohol will be allowed at the event

• Come with the intention to learn organize and build

• Be respectful to the Land and those around you

• Breakfast and dinner will be provided

• Bring your own dishware

• Sliding scale suggested donation of $20-40 (no one will be turned away for lack of funds)

• Directions to the event will be posted to the website a few days before the start

Visit our website at www.efoc2015.WordPress.com

Contact: efoc2015@riseup.net

Jason – (714) 721-6937

Alex – (805) 708-7817

Check out these related Newswire posts: