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Coulport
There will be a nine day camp at Coulport from August 15th to 23rd.
We will set it up to fit to the number of people attending so please let me know if you are planning to come and for how long. Help with setting up on August 14th is also needed.
We hope to run a nonviolence workshop for new TP members during the first week-end. Please pass this on to anyone who might be interested.
Some of us also hope to take part in the Climate Camp Scotland from August 3rd to
10th as a Trident Ploughshares group. Get in touch if you want to be involved.
Coulport Camp 2009 - Briefing
TRIDENT PLOUGHSHARES
INTERNATIONAL DISARMAMENT CAMP
Coulport, Scotland August 15th to 23rd
Here is some information about the camp that you might find helpful as well as a few guidelines which will make everyone’s stay more fun and hassle-free.
More detail about the camp program will be added nearer the time
Welcome to Coulport Camp
The Peaton Glen Wood campsite is about half a mile from the Coulport base, by the shores of Loch Long. There is a grassy field at the roadside and beyond that beautiful mixed woodland.
These nine days are a big focus point of the campaign when we carry out direct disarmament work at the Faslane and Coulport bases. It’s also a time for strengthening our ability to work well together, for bringing new people into the campaign, for renewing our vision and commitment, and for good fun.
You do not have to be a Trident Ploughshares pledger to attend the camp. So long as you are willing to abide by our nonviolence guidelines you will be very welcome.
Registration.
Please register at the information table when you get there. This is for your safety and it also helps us to get in touch with people after the camp if we need to. You also sign up for a short nonviolence workshop if you haven’t done one previously and people who spend a night or more at the camp are asked to sign a simple nonviolence pledge which also commits you not to use alcohol or drugs while you are at the camps. Please note you can come for part or all of the time.
Workshops.
As well as the nonviolence workshops mentioned above we will have a number of workshops on topics related to the campaign. Feel free to bring materials to run a workshop on campaigns you are involved in.
Disarmament Tools
We will have at the camp a small supply of disarmament tools but if you are able to bring your own bolt-cutters, hammers, locks, chains, etc. so much the better! Please bring along your (portable) musical instruments, dressing up gear, chalk, juggling stuff etc, - for disarming with fun and colour.
Camping
You will need your own tent and sleeping stuff. Please pitch your tents on the higher ground. The lower field (next to the phone box) is reserved for those who cannot physically get on to the top bit, and people doing press and legal support. Please don’t camp on the other field (towards Coulport), and keep any noise near to the house there to a minimum. We will have a few spare tents on the camp but we try to keep these free for people who turn up without knowing what’s needed. Please bring a torch with you to get you around the site (and maybe elsewhere!) after dark. Boots or sturdy shoes are also advisable - explorations of the bases and their surroundings involves tramping across rough and soggy ground. Insect repellent will also come in handy.
The camp has compost toilets. You can get small quantities of hot water for washing from the kitchen. In nearby Helensburgh there is a swimming pool and launderette.
Dogs
Please leave your dogs at home. If there are very special circumstances which make that it very difficult to do so please be in touch before the camp to discuss it. Where an exception is made there will be a strict code for the management of dogs.
Children
This is an action camp and there are no special arrangements for looking after small children. . Please look after them constantly or arrange for someone else to. Children of all ages could get lost in the woods or get injured on the road or in the gully, Please warn them about the dangers.
Young people
Trident Ploughshares has a policy that anyone who is under 16 has someone at the camp who acts as a responsible adult for them. If you are under 16 we ask that your parents make this arrangement with someone, preferably someone you know who is also coming to the camp, and that you bring a letter from your parents authorising that person to be responsible. Also if you are considering doing anything arrestable you need a letter authorising this person to collect you from custody although the police might still insist on your parents coming.
Food
There will be a communal kitchen, where main meals will be cooked (vegan). At other times feel free to make hot drinks and snacks here. Also volunteer to help with chopping veg, washing up, fetching water, collecting firewood etc. Please put donations for food in the collecting bucket in the kitchen area. We suggest £3 per day.
Costs.
We don’t ask a fee for camping but we do ask people to make donations, as they are able, to cover the costs of the camp as a whole (this is for phones, power, transport etc.) As a guide we are suggesting £25 a week. Don’t worry if you can’t contribute - the main thing is to be there - but it might be an idea to try to raise some sponsorship in your local area to cover your camp costs.
Camp organisation, meetings etc
We expect all campers either to be in an established affinity group, to link up to one for the camp or to form an ad-hoc camp affinity group with others. Decision-making for the camp will be at evening meetings attended by two representatives from each affinity group. It is up to each affinity group to sort out how they meet to prime their rep and get feedback. There will be a short information-sharing meeting just after the evening meal each day.
Task Groups
We ask each camper to be part of a Task Group so that the disarmament and support work gets done effectively and everyone plays a part. We will have task groups for cooking, camp maintenance, facilitating meetings, legal support, police liaison, media, registration and information, transport etc. You could be thinking now about which one you might be part of - and if you have ideas about that get in touch with us (see below for contacts).
Communications
We will have a communications caravan which handles media and legal support work and can do other basic office stuff. From there we can help you to write up and send fax and e-mail stories to your local area or country (bring the contact details with you!).
Blockades
Blockades could happen any day during the camp.
During the camp there will be plenty of affinity group based actions and water sports. Come along and join one of the ad hoc affinity groups which will form to accommodate all tastes, ages and abilities!
LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING!
For more information before the camp call 0845 45 88 367
e-mail: coulportcamp@tridentploughshares.org
website: www.tridentploughshares.org
Phone number at the camp: 0845 45 88 361
How to get there
Latest press releases about Coulport
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Last updated: 9th July 2009
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