Halloween Skill-share Weekend at the Rossport Solidarity Camp

mayo | education | news report Thursday December 02, 2010 13:21 by RSC - Rossport Solidarity Camp

Over Halloween the Rossport Solidarity Camp held a skills-share weekend. There was a good selection of workshops to choose from including NVDA (Non-Violent Direct Action), knots, climbing, renewable energy & sustainable activism.

New tail

Saturday began with lots of role plays using non violent direct action followed by knot tying practice with local fisherman Pat O’Donnell. After lunch, we began practicing different climbing techniques. This was brilliant and everyone got to have a go. As the night drew in, the pumpkins were lit and the Halloween games began.

The co-operative atmosphere changed to one of fierce competition during the traditional snap apple and bobbing games. The feature event of the night was the 2 metre hazelnut-nose chase along the sitting-room floor. International tensions flared during the races as contestants got carpet burns on the nose from their efforts. A clear champion was eventually found however, and the people celebrated his victory well into the night.

Impressively everyone was up bright and early for a wind and solar power workshop. We took down the homemade wind turbine (made on a course here last spring) and repainted the blades with linseed oil. We then replaced the tail with a new heavier one cut from marine plywood. This heavier tail will keep the blades facing into the wind for longer before furling thereby producing more energy. We're really pleased with the wind turbine – thanks again to our friends at V3 power- they'll hopefully be running another course next year.

After lunch we began the sustainable activism workshop. It was great to have this space to think and chat about issues that are often overlooked in the buzz of actions. Topics included safer spaces, looking at privilege, our needs and how to support each other better. It was excellent to see new and old faces, locals and supporters from across the country, come together and share skills. Hopefully this is the first of many skill shares at the house up on the hill. If you have ideas for workshops you’d like to see happen or could run one, please get in touch by emailing rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com

New tail close-up