Extinction Rebellion co-founder, Roger Hallam, comes to Frome in August to deliver a keynote speech entitled ‘Emergency means Prison’ at Campfire Convention’s ‘Campout 2019’ gathering at Field 725.
Organisers say, “The activist doesn’t mince his words over the level of action that he thinks we need to take in order to prevent the climate emergency that is becoming an immediate and serious threat to our way of life. He suggests that immediate action can bring about “the biggest transformation in world history which in turn might have an outside chance of preventing social breakdown in the short term and extinction in the middle term.”
Roger Hallam is speaking on Saturday at the late August 5-day event hosted by social network Campfire Convention, founded by Big Chill festival creator and Frome resident, Pete Lawrence. The event, described as “five days of sharing ideas, inspiration, connection and collective joy” will also feature music, art, yoga, wellbeing, open air saunas, a mentorship circle and, of course, campfires.
Other speakers include Brett Hennig from Sortition Foundation, author of ‘The End of Politicians’, Momentum former vice-chair Jackie Walker, who was recently suspended from the Labour Party over allegations around antisemitism which led to a feature film by John Pullman entitled ‘WitchHunt’ and Frome residents Jo Berry, who committed her life to the peaceful resolution and mediation of conflict after the death of her father, Tory MP Sir Anthony Berry, killed by the IRA in a Brighton hotel bombing in 1984 and Flatpack Democracy authory and architect of Frome’s independent politics revolution, Peter Macfadyen.
Organisers say, “It’s crunch time for Hallam and Extinction Rebellion “I am going to spend the summer doing talks to recruit people who are willing to go to prison through closing down Heathrow” he announces, as he ups the ante with a clear and heartfelt rallying call to action.
“There is an understandable tendency to assume XR is just a movement rather than an emergency mobilisation which will require thousands of people to go to prison and be arrested in the next 12 months in order to be in the ballpark of triggering the biggest transformation in world history which in turn might have an outside chance of preventing social breakdown in the short term and extinction in the middle term. “Emergency means prison” is probably the best title I can use for the Campfire talk to stand a chance of blowing people away.
“This may sound a bit full-on but I have to focus my time on the highest leverage activity and filling the jails is a total game changer and will stop the third runway this autumn if we can mobilise several hundred people and that will create the mass mobilisation we need to create a national crisis in October”
Extinction Rebellion confirmed that it had reflected on feedback from its initial plans to shut down Heathrow, and that its new proposals included measures to minimise disruption for travellers. The organisation is planning further action and rebellion on the streets in October. The Frome membership of its organisation was central to the worldwide Easter protests which centred around London and now numbers hundreds.
Encouraged by The Big Chill’s success in building a 40,000-capacity event around a thriving online forum united in a common interest, Pete Lawrence was inspired to explore how communities and social networking can make a difference. His vision for Campfire Convention takes this concept of community a stage further and connects into the current growing eco-consciousness and a movement towards member-led co-operative projects, a concept which he sees working online and in face-to-face meetings and events such as Campout.
Campout 2019, will take place from August 28th-September 1st at Critchill Estate, Frome, Somerset, BA11 4JL
Campout details and ticket links: www. campfireconvention.uk/ campout
Pictured: Roger Hallam.
