Myth

It is hard/confusing/technical to publish news on a website

Fact

Anybody can learn to use SpanThatWorld.com’s easy to operate “Wordpress” interface.

If you are tired of having to go through middle men to get your news, events, ideas, thoughts, ramblings or pictures on spanthatworld.com, then fear not! Turns out it’s actually really easy to learn the ropes and gain useful experience you can use in later life.

The image above is a screen shot of the webpage we use to edit this webpage. It’s well laid out and easy to upload pictures, videos and audio. We even have some handy videos online that will talk you thorugh the basics.

Now, before you get too excited, not just anybody can upload stuff – you have to be an author with a user account but luckily that is really easy too!

Just send an e-mail to Josh Dodd, the Communications Rep, and he can help you out with setting up a “wordpress” account and get you going with posting our shizzle. Never rely on facebook again – go direct to the source

Email josh.dodd@gmail.com if you would like the power of posting!

The Election Series

Hello.Welcome to the 2nd part of the SpanThatWorld.com election series. We hear from individuals in the movement who each give us their argument for why a particular political party’s ethos, policies and history are most aligned with the complex stew of principles that definte Woodcraft Folk. Last time the Liberal Democrats had their turn- click HERE to read that article.

DISCLAIMER: The views presented in this series are of the individuals not of the organisation. Woodcraft Folk and The District Fellows Movement remain party politically neutral.

The Woodcraft Folk is a Socialist Organisation:  We Need a Socialist Plan for the Election

By Dan Rawnsley

- Attributed to William Morris, poet, designer, socialist and revolutionary.

A general election in which the traditional left wing party, the Labour party, is riding on the back of over a decade of right wing policies is not a good moment for us.  In 1997 labour movement activists raised the slogan ‘vote Labour, don’t trust Blair’ and they were right.  What I call for is something similar.  Vote for socialists where possible, Labour where not and be ready to fight after the election, whoever wins.

Where do we come from?

What does it mean to be a socialist and how is the Woodcraft folk socialist?  Well, firstly socialism is a big part of our history.  In the 1920s Leslie Paul led the Woodcraft Folk out of the Kibbo Kift Kindred.  Folk historian Mary Davis describes his view in the early 30s;

‘Paul described the Folk…as [being] in ‘the van of leadership’ for the creation of ‘the new world order’ in which the worker would be ‘emancipated from his wage slavery and given economic power’.’

This is history though, is the folk the same organisation now as it was then?  Well, no, not at all.  However, if you hold true to our envoi I think it’s impossible to not be a socialist.

Underpants and Capitalism:

Let me talk about the underpants gnomes from South Park for a moment.  They had a plan that ran thusly:

• Step 1: Steal underpants.
• Step 2: ???
• Step 3: Profit.

Everyone knew that stealing underpants led to profit, but not how.  They stole underpants without getting anywhere.  Now let us look at your average political party (Lib Dem, Tory, Labour, Green etc…).  Their plan runs thusly:

• Step 1: Vote for us.
• Step 2: ???
• Step 3: A better world/ a fairer world/ an end to ‘broken’ Britain etc…

The fact remains that our idea of a world where there is no sloth or greed, where there is peace for all and kinship between all living beings is not possible under Capitalism.  All of the taxes, cuts and initiatives proposed by political parties will not make that world.  They do not have a plausible step 2 because they don’t talk about anti-capitalism.  Socialists do.  If we are to ever realise our ideals we must be Socialists.

Step 2 and Class:

What is the Socialist step 2?  The action of the organised working class.  Now then, before you begin to argue let me tell you that class is not what you think it is.  Class is not the size of your TV; class is not the number of cars you drive; it is not the size of your house or the clothes you wear.  It’s all about economics.

There are two main classes in society, the ruling class and the working class.  Other classes exist, but they are neither powerful, nor a majority (or even large minority) and although interesting and at times important I will have to ignore them for now.

Now then, the ruling or capitalist class owns what are called ‘the means of production’.  The means of production are things like the tools and machines we work with.  We use these tools to produce things that the capitalist sells for profit.  From our work the capitalist is enriched and does not have to work themselves.  They become wealthy through the labour of others (to me the pinnacle of sloth and greed.)

The working class do not have the means of production at their disposal.  We have only our bodies, our hands and our heads to offer.  We sell these in return for wages.  Most importantly we sell them without a free choice of where to place our labour or for what length of time.  This is why capitalist industry is fundamentally undemocratic and any thinking democrat can have no truck with it.  The fact is that most people in the Woodcraft Folk are working class and the overwhelming majority of the world’s population are working class.

So where do we go from this position of weakness in relation to our capitalist masters?  The crux of the socialist step 2 is that the only force that can overthrow Capitalism and build a better world of peace and fellowship is the organised working class.  With our hands on the levers of production if we collectively refuse to work we stop the world.  Our most powerful act is to fold our arms and do nothing.

What makes a better, more united society possible is that through this struggle we can only succeed if we unite across all boundaries of race, gender, sexuality and disability.  A strike has to be co-operative to be effective, so you can’t be picky about who joins in.  Whereas all the main political parties talk about inclusion and diversity, it is only the labour movement which by its actions points towards it.  To be in the Woodcraft Folk means being part of a Socialist organisation.  To be a Socialist means supporting the working class.

What Do We Do in the Election?

I’ve made the case for a socialist outlook for the Woodcraft Folk.  But what should socialists do around the election?  Socialists have no faith in the parliament of the ruling class to bring about our vision of the future.  That’s something only we can do together.

‘If you are looking for a Moses to lead you out of the capitalist wilderness you will stay right where you are.  I would not lead you into this promised land if I could, because if I could lead you in, someone else could lead you out.’

- Eugene Debs, American trade unionist.

That said; we can’t ignore the election.  Even at times of massive class conflict people have looked to parliament for guidance.  It is essential that socialists be elected to parliament on the basis that they are democratically accountable to the movement outside parliament.  This is so that they can advocate socialist ideas and fight for reforms which can point towards socialism (a shorter working week, a just transition to ecologically sustainable production for example).  We are, however, far from being in this enviable position.

The Labour party was created to fulfil this purpose.  Elements of the workers movement of the early 20^th century built it to act as a working class voice in politics.  Today, the democratic control is gone, the number of Labour party socialists is pitifully small, but the link still exists through the trade unions which fund the Labour party.  It is for this reason that Socialists should vote Labour.

After the election we will face cuts in education, wages and public sector services. We need to fight back.

We shouldn’t vote Labour with any illusions.  Just like any other party going in to the next election the Labour party will make vicious cuts.  We must also fight for working class control of the Labour party and for members’ control of the unions to force the Labour party in to becoming a democratically accountable, working class party.

Voting for Labour and Socialist candidates is not the most important thing you can do.  If you believe in and hold true to the text I quoted at the start of this article you should become a class struggle activist.  You should organise in your college, university or workplace to oppose cuts and be ready to fight whatever form of government is elected.

As politically conscious working class people we do not have any illusions with parliament.  We elect it only so as to eventually destroy it.  If the Ashcroft scandal, the bank bailout and MPs expenses have not proved to you that we need to get rid of Capitalism then you should be put in a museum, as you are surely a fairly unique relic by now.  Politics is about more than voting.  Vote Socialist, vote Labour, but become an activist.  The choice is between Socialism and barbarism and the choice is yours.

Want to contribute to the election series?

Want to have your say on the election? Got a different view of Woodies that isn’t coming through here? Let us know and we’d be more than happy to get your thoughts online! You can submit anonymously if you like – just drop an e-mail to Phin. Thank you.

]]> http://www.spanthatworld.com/true-socialist-woodies-vote-labour/feed/ 2 http://www.spanthatworld.com/scottish-agm/ http://www.spanthatworld.com/scottish-agm/#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:28:17 +0000 Josh Dodd http://www.spanthatworld.com/?p=4438

The Scottish equivalent to Annual Gathering was a relatively small affair, and had a homely feel to it because it was inside at a quaint little youth hostel in the middle of Scotland, Pitlochry. Over 50 people came to the event in January from all over Scotland and I felt welcomed straight away, into games and workshops and introductions and the integration of childcare into the event was something of a marvel. The winter winds we’re a sharp contrast to the usually boiling hot business meetings of the summertime, and the backdrop of snowy pine covered mountains offered inspiration and a refreshing break from meetings. The meetings were incredibly accessible though, and young people were involved throughout, doodling their ideas which the chair read out if they couldn’t explain to the whole group.

On the Saturday evening we had a celebration meal with traditional haggis neeps and tatties; sketches ‘in the style of’, dancing, singing and parachute games. In the morning we went for a short walk in the snow and the younger ones hid in the woods, in general it was a really sweet, well-managed and homely weekend; they got something right thats for sure!

uzgiu

• Would you like to help lead a group of up to 10 children and young people where they get to try a range of adventurous activities e.g. climbing, canoeing, high ropes etc.  As part of the Regional Development project we’re organising a Learning and Fun day for groups in the North West at an adventure activity centre near Preston.  We need volunteers to be responsible for a group of young people, ensuring that they get to each activity on time and generally stay in one piece throughout the day!  Each activity will also be supervised by one of the centre’s qualified members of staff.

• You’ll need to be 18 or over, be a Woodcraft member and have a current CRB check.  Ideally it would also be good if you’ve have some experience of either leading or helping out at group nights.  You’ll need to be available on Saturday 27^th March from 10.00 am – 6.00 pm.  All expenses will be paid and you’ll also get a chance to try some of the activities yourself.

If you’re interested in helping out please contact Rose Mitchell, Development Officer for the Regions, at rose.mitchell@woodcraft.org.uk or 020 7358 6458

East Thing is surley going to be a game changer for Regional Things. Not in an Avatar – “oh god its so pretty but shame about the lack of substance” way but rather in a “oh god this redifines my understanding of Regional Engaement, National DF identity and the world at large” kinda way.

Bea Bottomley is the mastermind behind it all! She and the East DFs have been ludicrously busy getting stuff ready. In this post is the info pack made by Cat from Cambridge and including the “Things about Things” guide from Chair of Regional Council Finn from Banbury. Just Click the image or HERE to download the pack.

East Thing Info Pack!

Sorry about the low res – unfortunatelly nothing can be done about that coz the server uploader is L-A-M-E! if your struggling to read it or have any other question why not e-mail bea at 03bbottomley@googlemail.com for a better quality version!

Greetings Traveler,

Big News! The Awesome Job Centre is now online at www.venturercamp.org.uk !! But what on earth does that mean i hear you cry! well fear not compadre for i shall explain.

The Awesome Job Centre

The Awesome Job Centre is a new centre to open at V-Camp 2010. It will do some of the usual things that centres do like running a bitchin programe of workshops but crucially it will be the hub of all DF and Kinsfolk roles at the Camp. The Awesome Job Centre intends to keep track of everybody over 15 and what they’re getting up to. Not to flex some sort of central controll but to help everybody gets the most out of V-Camp 2010 and getting involved with a certain centre or team is as accessible and open as possible.

Perhaps you’ve always wanted to do some site services? Perhaps you wanna run a set of DJing workshops? Perhaps you wanna do somthing new everyday untill you find the team or centre for you? Whatever your desire The Awesome Job Centre is the place to go. You can find contact details for every centre coordinator so its really easy to get the answers your looking for. If that doesn’t work or you have a complex situation you can e-mail the awesome job centre directly.

Why Do I Need a Role?

Venturer Camp is for Venturers. Part of this means that if you are over 15 then you need to help build the camp those under 15. Its not about all work and no play – having a role doesn’t take up all your time, is always a lot of fun and you meet loads of new people.You will need to select your role when you book (Which can be done entirely ONLINE)

Contact

Probably best to go straight there and see what’s what Click HERE to visit The Awesome Job Centre

Welcome to Zine 2 online! its a bit different to the one that went out in the post. It hasn’t been through the censor pannel at Woodcraft Folk Head office and therefore is very slightly more explicit. What do you think? Did we make a mistake with the design of this one? Does it confront the issue head on or miss the point entirely? There was a lot of discussion and some tense moments in bringing you Zine 2 and as ever your opinion is all that matters.

slam it down here.

submissions / questions for the next zine to dfzine@spanthatworld.com

word

Zine 2

Editied by Kate Bowman

Also Available at in the Zine Archive

If you like this you might like to go to the fundraising page www.justgiving.com/frankiesknittedstuff , all the designs are used to raise money for the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation.

The Election Series

Hello. We all know that Woodcraft Folk and the District Fellows Movement ain’t allowed to support specfic political parties no matter how closely their policies might align with our aims and principles. Neither are we allowed to speak out against specfic parties. However this does not mean we are an a-political organisation. Far from it! Woodcraft Folk has a complex and rich tapestry of principles and ideas that make us pretty unique in what we stand for. This article is the first in a series of articles that each take a political party and build a case for why they are most in tune with Woodcraft Folk beliefs.

DISCLAIMER: The views presented in this series are of the individuals not of the organisation. Woodcraft Folk and The District Fellows Movement remain party politically neutral.

Liberal Democrats – Woodies Through and Through.

by Kieran Ford.

“We champion the freedom, dignity and well-being of individuals, we acknowledge and respect their right to freedom of conscience and their right to develop their talents to the full. We aim to disperse power, to foster diversity and to nurture creativity”

The Liberal Democrat’s Constitution

What does it mean to be liberal?

Well, the term has lost it’s meaning, found new meanings and in many ways the meaning is used inappropriately, potentially ignorantly today. The original meaning of liberal encompassed both a personal liberty (personal freedoms, civil liberties etc.) but also an economic liberty that, certainly historically, the WCF is staunchly against – free markets, no trade barriers between countries, capitalism and globalisation. Yet, as I say, the term has changed it’s meaning and as such, the party doesn’t hold the liberalism that we as a folk, should be wary of.

Liberal these days means to be left-wing, free, open, inclusive, multicultural and especially in the last point, contradicts entirely the original meaning of liberal – to be truly multicultural means to accept group rights (such as letting those of the Islamic faith not work on Fridays) whereas to be liberal would be to assert the same rights for all (such as employing an entire workforce to work Monday to Friday.). The original one-size-fits-all approach of liberalism no longer applies either to this party or to the folk. We no longer simply state that everyone has the equal right to participate in folk business but instead eagerly embrace people from all walks of life to involve themselves. The difference, though subtle, is huge. Liberalism, traditionally, embraces competition and liberals such as Adam Smith simply acknowledge that competition inevitably breeds failure, loss and inequality of outcome. But this is not the liberalism of the Lib Dems nor the WCF.

One clear concept that the Lib Dems and the WCF share is the lack of a clear identity. In the way that the WCF is often labelled ‘the hippy-scouts’ which could easily be translated as ‘the liberal alternative to the conventional scout movement,’ as indeed historically, it was (though perhaps without the word liberal); the Lib Dems are also seen as simply ‘the liberal alternative to the conventional two party choice.’

As a folk, like the party, we are not liberal. Not in the traditional sense. But in many ways we are Lib Dem. We are a left-wing approach to a conventional way of doing things, and we are an organisation that is also struggling with the lack of identity endemic in the left-wing political sphere.

However, rather than these similarities turning us to despair and angst, the general election provides us with a fascinating opportunity of thrusting left-wing politics right back into the limelight, and as such create an identity for ourselves in mainstream political life. It is looking increasingly likely that we will have a hung parliament after the election (where no party has a clear majority over all others) and as such, for the first time in a generation or more (since the 1970s), the Lib Dems have a truly great part to play in politics – becoming the deciding factor in decisions where the two main parties disagree. If we vote for the Liberal Democrats, now is the time when policies truly in line with the values of the WCF will be lobbied for in parliament and the left-wing or ‘liberal’ politics that both organisations stand for will be given an air of legitimacy once more.

The Lib Dems have recently outlined a “shopping list” for the policies they will rally for in the next parliament, especially in a hung parliament, and it seems quite clear that these are the kinds of policies that we at the WCF should be looking to get heard in parliament. These are:

• Investing extra funds in education through a pupil premium for disadvantaged children.

 Education is vital to the folk and not only are the Lib Dems focussing on education, they are also making sure that all education is available to all – reducing any chances of the country gaining an educated elite. This isn’t the liberal outcome of inequality but an embracing of the equality of opportunity. As many of us are either accruing or facing the debts of university life or vocational training, the Lib Dems (as they have successfully implemented in Scotland) are also the only major party committed to scrapping tuition fees in their entirety and look to overhaul the vocational training system in the country.

• Tax reform, taking 4 million out of tax and raising taxes on the rich by requiring capital gains and income to be taxed at the same rate.

Basically, the Lib Dems are fixed on not letting bankers and rich capitalists get away with such large bonuses and incomes as before and will impose higher taxes on them, in a move towards a greater sense of justice in the tax system. This seems to be right in line with the broadly socialist principles of the folk – the Lib Dems are quite clearly the fiscal Robin Hood, and we as a folk should embrace this. It also demonstrates the great void between modern liberal politics and the traditional liberal politics of Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill and others.

• Rebalancing of the economy to put less emphasis on centralised banking and more on a new greener economy.

Sustainability is vital to DFs, having introduced a sustainability rep this Althing and are committed to doing all we can to reduce our emissions – the Lib Dems totally agree. Not only this but, I quote from their website “nuclear has a dirty legacy and increases global security risks. We oppose construction of further nuclear power stations” The Lib Dems agree with the folk that nuclear has no part to play in the future of this nation and the world in general.

• Political reforms, including changes to the voting system and a democratically elected Lords, that go further than proposed by Labour.

The Lib Dems are the only major party that seem to embrace democracy almost as much as we as a folk do. They advocate a move towards proportional representation, not the first-past-the-post system we currently use, lowering the voting age to 16 (embracing all of the DF movement!) and making both houses of Parliament accountable to the electorate.

The Liberal Democrats may not be liberal, but looking closer, neither are we. We are both left-wing, non-mainstream organisations working towards a better world in the name of shared values of freedoms, equality, justice and fairness. It seems clear to me, that regardless of personal identities the two organisations are symmetrical on many levels and that is why, as a member of the Woodcraft Folk, come May, I shall be voting for the Liberal Democrats.

It’s simple really. Glastonbury runs a huge area called the kids field. Its an exciting place full of castles and colour. It’s staffed by volunteers with experience working with young people and Brighton Woodcraft Folk managed to get in on the act a while back. In exchange for their hard work every volunteer gets a free ticket to the festival. The camping ain’t as plush as Workers Beer but its still pretty swanky, in a great location and FREE.

To apply just send an e-mail to Anna at a.right.to.play@gmail.com including sensible things like your name, district, age, phone number etc. First Aid training would be great but not essential.

Fundraising Pack

Katie Hyatt, the DF Frundaising Rep is making it her mission to make sure DFs never have to give up on one of their awesome ideas simply because there ain’t enough money in the bank to devlop it. DFs don’t have external funding and don’t get money from the Woodcraft Folk membership fee so all our activities are funded by people like you working at festivals and putting on small events like Span That World WITH MUSIC to raise money. Katie has produced this incredible fundraising pack that can be found as a .pdf above or on the Rough Guides page.

Please get stuck in and make sure the movement is around next year. If you need any help just give katie a shout HERE!

Are you currently involved, or would like to be involved, in local, regional or national committees?

Do you want to gain skills and confidence to help you in committee meetings?

Do you want to explore how committees work and find ways to make meetings interesting and inclusive to everyone?

Are you sick of being stuck in boring meetings and keen to make your committee the best it could be?!

Then come along to a Bored Meetings training weekend (and no, that’s not a spelling mistake!) to find out more, share experiences and ideas, ask questions and find out how to not get bored in meetings!

When and where?

There are two Bored Meetings weekends coming up, running from Saturday morning (with arrivals on Friday evening) to lunchtime on the Sunday. The dates are:

• 26^th, 27^th and 28^th February 2010 at Cudham Environmental Activities Centre, in the South East (seewww.cudhameac.org.uk)
• May 2010 in the north of England (exact dates and location TBC)

Who can come?

The course is available to all Venturers, DFs and adults from England who are either already on committees (e.g. district committees, regional committees, General Council, project or camp committees etc.), or thinking of getting involved with a committee in the near future.

What does it cost?

NOTHING! No, really. It’s actually free.

Just fill in a form to let us know you’re coming, and your food and accommodation costs will all be covered. We will also pay travel expenses to the course venue and can provide a crèche if it is required (please let us know in good time).

As it is likely these courses will be very popular we need to ask for a £20 deposit to hold your place.  However this will be refunded if you attend the course.  If for any reason you need to cancel your place, you will need to give us at least 2 weeks notice or we will be unable to refund your deposit.

bored meetings booking form