Starting Date: 05-17-2009
Ending Date: 05-23-2009
Appalachian South Folklife Center
Pipestem, West Virginia 25979
United StatesThe beautiful Appalachian South Folklife Center, located deep in the West Virginia hills near Pipestem State Park is our location for the 2009 Mountain Justice Summer Training Camp.
Founded by poet, radical labor organizer and civil rights advocate Don West in 1965, the Appalachian South Folk honors a long tradition of struggle in the West Virginia coalfields. Mountain Justice held its first two Training Camps here, and some Mountain Justice members say they still dream of Pipestem.
Surrounded by beautiful mountain views, with a nice main lodge/dining room and fireplace, plus a chapel, outdoor stage and bonfire pit, the Folklife Center also indoor dorm-style accomodations as well as pleasant tent campsites with plenty of room.
The weather for the 2005 and 2006 Mountain Justice camps was perfect, and we have some great speakers and bands lined up for this years' camp, including "United States of Appalachia" author Jeff Biggers, Earth First! co-founder Mike Roselle, Former Mine Safety and Health Academy Director Jack Spadaro, "To Save The Land and People" author Dr. Chad Montrie, Dr. Lynda Anne Ewen, Professor Emeritus at Marshall University, plus prominent coalfield activists and leaders, and ... you!
With an emphasis on education, strategy, non-violence and cultural sensitivity the 2009 Mountain Justice Training Camp will provide participants with comprehensive workshops covering the impacts and politics behind mountaintop removal mining and the hands-on tactical training to take to the mountains and do something about it. Take this opportunity to share strategies and build relationships that will create an even stronger network of allies and coalitions organizing resistance to MTR this summer and beyond!
Folks attending training camp are asked to contribute a minimum of $20 plus $10/night at time of registration. This will help tremendously in planning and purchasing food and supplies and paying for the cost of renting the facilities for the week. Any additional contributions will allow us to offer scholarships for those without the funds to attend camp. If there are any funds remaining after camp they will be used for ongoing campaigns to fight the destruction of our mountains and communities. Your registration contribution includes camping, parking, delicious healthy food (vegetarian, vegan and meat options available) and all workshops.
Mountaintop removal is no joke. This is an important time in a very serious campaign. Mountain Justice Training Camp is open to all activists who want to see all forms of mountaintop removal coal mining and valley fills abolished and who are willing to abide by our Mountain Justice policies of non-violent direct action. Although we often joke that we will "win" because we have more fun (and we will!) many fruits will be born of our hard labor, our ability to focus, and our tendency to come together as community to get things done. Please know that as we hope there will be much music/merry making and you will be fed for the duration of the camp, opportunities to learn and share skills will be abundant and we expect each participant to be just that - a participant, with an emphasis on fully participating in workshops, discussions, and at least two community volunteer shifts (kitchen, clean up, etc.). We rock because we work and play together.Geographical Scope: Regional Other |
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