WHY A NON-NUCLEAR RETREAT-GATHERING AT CROWS NEST

[Oscar]

WHY A NON-NUCLEAR RETREAT-GATHERING AT CROWS NEST

From: Stoody Harding
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 10:35 AM
Subject: Non-Nuclear Retreat-Gathering Sept. 11-13

WHY A NON-NUCLEAR RETREAT-GATHERING AT CROWS NEST - September 11-13TH

Background

Last August, around the time of the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, about 20 of us from across the province gathered at Crows Nest in the Qu’Appelle Valley. Many of us had never met. Over the weekend, we discussed how we could build relationships to more effectively bring the non-nuclear alternative to mainstream Saskatchewan. We knew we were entering a more intense period, but had no idea how events would unfold. Our time together, I think, made us more “connected” and resilient over the last year.

Over the year, the political landscape regarding the nuclear controversy has fundamentally changed. Some of the reasons for this are:

1. The formation of SOS in opposition to Bruce Power’s plans and the strengthening of non-nuclear groups and public opinion along the North Saskatchewan, from Lloyd(minster) to The Battlefords to PA.

2. The jelling of “coalitions within coalitions”, spanning the Coalition for a Clean Green SK, Kairos and the ICUCEC, the Council of Canadians, Greens and many more. This has widened communications, facilitated more coordination, and strengthened the sharing of information. Decentralized capacities have grown immensely.

3. Resistance to the UDP corporate agenda (an all-male nuclear lobby) mushroomed into thousands attending the UDP consultations, mostly opposing the expansion of the nuclear industry in the province. (A film of these events is in the works.)

4. The NDP leadership campaign, occurring coincidentally with this grass-roots mobilization, brought a stronger, younger, non-nuclear perspective into the mainstream of the party.

5. More northern Indigenous people expressed opposition to the nuclear agenda, and the strengthening of relations between people in the north and south has led to a better understanding of how things are experienced and seen in the still “resource colonized” north.

Hand in hand with these developments, there has been a deepening awareness and critique of the nuclear fuel system and a more concrete understanding of the non-nuclear, renewable energy alternatives. Our capacity to produce non-nuclear analyses and information that challenges mainstream, institutionalized nuclear propaganda has grown immensely.

Keeping Up The Pressure

Events through the summer and into the fall will hopefully keep the nuclear controversy in the public realm. These include:

August 5-7 - Climate Action (Showdown in Regina) when the Premiers met in Regina;
August 20-24 – Keeper of the Water IV planned at Wollaston (though this was cancelled due to a Swine Flu threat, north-south networks and relationships were strengthened);
August 28 – Coalition gathering in Saskatoon;
September 28 – KAIROS Prairie Conference in Swift Current;
October 4 – “No Nukes- Go Renewable” events and rally in Saskatoon. And, of course, there will be the Perrin’s Report of the UDP consultations sometime in September – which we have to be organized to respond to.

THE QUESTION REMAINS WHETHER WE CAN ALSO MOBILIZE PROVINCE-WIDE TO HAVE A STRONG PRESENCE AT THE OPENING OF THE LEGISLATURE IN REGINA ON OCTOBER 22ND. I think it is vital that, before winter sets in, we bring this issue and the face of the growing non-nuclear public, right to the doorsteps of the Sask Party government.

Broad Objectives

I think there are two broad strategic-educational goals in this work:

1. To keep building the grass-roots Coalition opposed to nuclear expansion and, in support of sustainable energy, to mount increasing non-partisan political pressure on both the governing Sask Party and opposition NDP right into the next provincial election. We can’t let down on the gains we have already made.

2. To continue to link our provincial actions with the national and international mobilization towards the Copenhagen, post-Kyoto meetings in December. We are working to build a non-nuclear climate change energy strategy.

Making changes in Saskatchewan, the front end of the nuclear fuel system as well as a major player in the heavy oil export industry, is an important part of this. We will increasingly have to work with people in Alberta to accomplish these goals. How to approach the next provincial election remains a “work in progress.”

Nurturing Our Health and Balance

We are all very busy in our localities and organizations, and don’t need to pile even more planning and tasks onto our lives. The growing number of involved activists also needs to take care of themselves, to not reach “burn out”. (I came close after the UDP organizing). Nevertheless, we need to continue to build relationships and mutual understanding of events and strategies if we are going to sustain our work; as we must if we are going to succeed in winning Saskatchewan to a non-nuclear future.

When 20 of us met last August, we discussed our situations, shared our experiences and enhanced our background in the four areas that are now Coalition policy (climate change, environmental health, nuclear proliferation, and full-costs of energy). This gathering not only helped strengthen our relationships, but our resolve. It helped us face the challenges of the UDP’s tight timelines. It helped enhance our communications and resourcing (e.g. Nuke News). We felt more “supported”, which is vital. We became a stronger and more sensitive “community in action.”

The September 11-13th Retreat-Gathering

I propose another informal weekend gathering starting on the evening of Friday September 11th and going till after lunch on Sunday the 13th. If we can get a cross-section of people active from across the province we can:

1. Share what we’ve learned over the past intense year;

2. Build better face-to-face relations across localities and organizations; and,

3. Deepen our conversation about how we see things happening and can act to shape future events and outcomes.

This will be a loose, communal gathering with lots of time for walking, relaxing, talking informally and personally, and playing, without other pressures. The weekend, including meal preparation, will be totally self-organized and community guided. We have room for about 25, using cabins, and camping for those who can bring tents. Please bring sleeping bags and some good food to pool for meals. We have large indoor meeting spaces. There are trails throughout our land. We are close to Fort Qu’Appelle for supplies.

Please circulate this in your network and let me know, by September 4th at the very latest, if there are one or two people from your area and network who are interested in attending.

Jim Harding 306-332-4492