A-Infos (en) Appeal for anarchists summercamp in switzerland 6.-17. august 2008

Living without domination ---- Experiences with other camps and libertarian 
meetings have shown that it is important to create a place where people can come 
together on a regular base to unite anarchist theory and practice and to have a 
good time together. We know that a camp that is limited in time seems like a 
retreat on an island. But it is trough this that we create a space beyond the 
everyday life of society and make it possible to try to live our ideas from a 
domination-free life and try to develop them. The A-Camp gives us the 
possibility to think about how we want to live and to try things out. Away from 
the daily struggle against authorities, sexist and right wing molestations and 
other repulsivenesses which are normal in this society. But also the realisation 
and overcoming of these structures of domination in our own lives should be a 
subject.

Basic consensus is, that life without domination can not go along with sexist 
and racist sorts of behaviour. We do not tolerate any sexist, racist, and 
patriarchal behaviour. For people who don’t agree with this the camp is the 
wrong place. We are aware of the fact/we know that this can only be a relative 
freedom from domination, because we all carry the mechanism of domination of 
this society in ourselves. We count on everyone at the camp to actively 
intervene if they become aware of such behaviour from themselves or others. We 
should all try to make the life together as free from domination as possible. It 
has to be possible at all times to discuss the structures of domination and 
their consequences.

To organise a camp together does not mean being wrapt up in a "communitiysense 
of the scene". It is important to show contradictions and to bring in critic, so 
we can learn from each other and question our behaviour. And it’s okay to argue! 
At the same time the way how to deal with each other at an anarchist camp should 
be solidary and respectful, which includes the acceptance of different views and 
kinds of approaches.

Self-organised plurality 1: organisation

The preparatory group does only exist until the start of the camp, afterwards 
it’s up to all participants that it works, is fun and how far we can bring our 
utopias to life. We take over the preparation, look for a place, organise the 
advertising and try to organise the infrastructure, but without people who 
construct and deconstruct the camp, without the organisation of the kitchen and 
camp, people who organise food, cook, clean up, take over the caretaking for the 
children it’s not going to work. The camp starts this year on wednesday, for 
there being enough time to build up the camp. Towards the end of the camp there 
will be a discussion about the preparation and the way the camp was going on 
this year. In this discussion will be built also the new organisation group for 
the next camp.

We are aware of the hierarchy in knowledge that goes along with a preparatory 
group and we will try to spread the informations as transparent as possible so 
that in the camp other, common forms of organisation will come to the fore.

As we hope to meet many people of other languages at the A-Camp, we want to hold 
the plenary meetings, informations and discussions polyglot – we will need 
people who can translate.

Self-organised plurality part 2: workshops and culture

Besides the life together and the exchange during the camp, workshops will be a 
central aspect of the camp. Some of them are planned or already organised – the 
updated list can been found on our homepage: www.acamp.ch.vu – but the idea is 
that all participants of the camp will organise a workshop related to their 
wishes and interests. This can be announced trough the above mentioned page 
(just fill in the formular) or spontaneously at the camp.

So the range of workshops can be as colourful and diverse as the participants’ 
interests: ranging from building compost toilets to tree-climbing, making a 
newspaper or radio, playing streettheater, from discussions and presentations 
about anarchosyndicalism, antimilitarism, the basis of anarchy, work, life in a 
commune, about pedagogics/anti-pedagogics to anarchy of sexes/gender, meaning 
antisexism, intersexuality and critic of the small-family and of the romantic 
two-person relation.

But in the end that all depends on what you do and prepare, so please contact us 
with all the things you want to do. A plurality of the camp can only come to 
life if people who work with different themes theoretical and practical anyway 
prepare and offer a workshop on these subjects. There should also be a rich 
cultural programme. If you play music, cabaret or theater or want to fill the 
evening programme, please contact us. On the campside there’s also place for 
games and dancing, just bring along the material.

Connecting with others

To continue the resistance against domination and suppression all over the world 
and to connect it with the contents of the A-Camp we should try to connect the 
camp with concrete political problems/discussions/struggles. That’s why it would 
be good if people who are involved in these struggles could explain the newest 
developments and plans in these areas. Use your contacts to other libertarian 
camps, caravans, to people from other countries and anarchist organisations, to 
make the step to the A-camp a step towards more linking.

Website: www.acamp.ch.vu

Email: acamp@arachnia.ch.NOSPAM

More practical information you find under the point „general infomation about 
the camp“:
ACBs (Allgemeine Camp Bestimmungen).
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