from Tar Sands Resist
When: Sept. 12-15, 2014
RSVP by emailing tarsandsresist@riseup.net (this will help us coordinate carpooling, food, and allow us to give you directions to the camp site).
Utah Tar Sands Resistance is opening up the camp on the East Tavaputs Plateau, and site of the permanent vigil, to host for the community of Trans and/or Wemyn to create intimacy/relationships with the precious, fragile, NEVER sacrificable land and people.
We believe that developing authentic relationships between peoples and with the land will strengthen our community. The word authentic means genuine and original, shown to be true and trustworthy, sharing the sense of actuality. The Trans and/or Wemoon gathering will create space for participants to connect with deeper emotions through learning how to communicate and be present in life with vulnerability and compassion.
Intimacy is the ability to share oneself clearly with another, to allow another to know some of what self-knowledge has revealed. Self-disclosure calls for a willingness to let an outsider into one’s personal space. Openness and freedom are also needed, for intimacy involves risk and leaves a person vulnerable. Confidence and comfort with one’s own identity permits sharing parts of self with another. To establish any level of intimacy in a relationship requires knowledge of that other person over multiple moments so that some degree of trust can be built. A healthy individual has many people from whom to draw. These people form a person’s support network and are available to support the different aspects of one’s life. They provide positive resources in the moments of crisis as well as a necessary context to maintain a healthy way of life.
We are interested in all types of workshops, skill shares and group or partner discussions that will deepen our communities relationships with the earth and aid in healing our wounds. We are decentralizing this gathering which means we will figure out daily activities/workshops at the encampment. We do seek tree climbing skills such as knots/harness/gear/self check and ascending/descending. We seek compassionate communication skill shares. We seek discussion and actions that can help improve action planning.
At the encampment we will discuss Tree Climbing Camps that are being proposed throughout spring 2015 on the Plateau when proposed construction of the Tar Sands Mine is scheduled. We will discuss and see if there is interest in a Trans and/or Womyn Climb Camp as one of the series of Climb Camps throughout spring.
In preparation for the proposed Tree Climbing Camps on the Plateau we will be having a Direct Action training camp (Building Relationships, Security Culture, Affinity Groups, Music in the movement, Rope Safety, How to tie knots, Gear for climbing and acquiring, Introduction to Police Interactions, Aspen Security Group Summary, ??) in the woods of Southwest Colorado, October 3-6.
A Direct Action Training Camp is proposed and needs support near so called “Denver” during March Spring Break. We need organizers, participants and skill sharers to create encampments possible please reach out to us.
Please come ready to participate and contribute in the ways that aid in your healing. We hope for people to reach out to others and the land on an individual and group basis. We are seeking donations and contributions of all kinds. Donations of food and climbing gear are appreciated. IF you are able to shuttle supplies from so called “Denver” and/or “Grand Junction” to the encampment that will be appreciated.
We DO want to disclose that this is a permanent vigil site with participants steadily flowing in and out and no one is turned away based on their identity. There will be separate camping space for those who DO NOT identify as trans and/or wemon from september 11-16.