Trans’ and Womyn’s Action Camp

August 29th-September 3rd ~CASCADIA~

March 27, 2012

We are happy to announce the upcoming 4th Annual Cascadia Trans’ and Womyn’s Action Camp (TWAC) 2012!

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Be sure to check out the RIDEBOARD here!

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TWAC! = The lovely Sound of Smashing Patriarchy!

The Trans’ and Womyn’s Action Camp is a gathering of eco-activists, who are also working to bring down patriarchy. TWAC is for folks who identify as any variety of gender variant and marginalized genders. There will be space to share skills in a supportive, empowering and encouraging environment.

Greetings! The Trans and Womyn’s Action Camp (TWAC) collective is excited to announce the third annual campout in Cascadia! Comprised of trans and womyn organizers from various chapters of Rising Tide North America, TWAC aims to take space and create a safe(r) six day action camp nestled deep within the beautiful forests of the Cascadia bioregion in the Pacific Northwest. Stemming from the larger environmental movement, TWAC was formed out of a need to make space for marginalized identities that otherwise may not be represented within the broader push for environmental justice, which often occurs at the compromise of social justice.

In the past TWAC has consisted of workshops and trainings on things like strategic campaigning, non-violent direct action, tree climbing, security culture, trans 101, botany, how to prevent burnout/mental health and self-care, theatre of the oppressed and more (another make out workshop perhaps? Yes, please, but only if you wanna)! The days were filled with workshops, swimming, hiking and communally prepared meals while the nights sang with beautiful conversation and story telling around a campfire, reclaiming space making room for comradery, support, and safety (enough for some consensually wild truth or dare).

Why does TWAC exist? Because being of a marginalized identity can be dangerous and because this truth exists, TWAC exists. The camp aims to seek an end to oppression of all varieties. TWAC keeps it real and sees the intersections between the killing of the planet and the killing of trans, womyn, and gender outlaws from all backgrounds and all experience levels.

What would a world without patriarchy look like? However the fuck we want to make it. For six days in the nourishing, lush green forests of Cascadia come explore this possibility with us and bring what you can! As we try to synthesis a world without patriarchy, we also try to synthesis a world without capitalism and therefore this camp is entirely produced by volunteer effort! It’s not too late to get down with the get down and lend your energy to making TWAC amazing for the third consecutive year!

Who is TWAC for? TWAC supports the deconstruction of patriarchy, sexism, heteronormativity, speciesism, and overall bullshit. That being said, this camp has been created and maintained by and for *womyn, trans, gender benders, blenders and fuckers. TWAC is a special place where people of oppressed identities can teach one another, learn, share, connect and heal together in a safe(r) space. While the camp is not meant for *cisgender men (folks who were born and socialized as male and identify as male) there are plenty of outside support roles (fundraising, organizing a parallel and completely separate cis-men camp in which you’d provide anti-oppression workshops, trainings, etc.) that can be filled by allies. Actively deconstructing male privilege for example, is one of them. It is not the responsibility of people of marginalized identity to educate folks with male privilege about allyship or identity politics, and therefore it is up to cis men and allies to teach themselves. TWAC is one of few spaces in general where trans people, womyn, and all gender variants alike are in a safe(r) space to be whoever they are or want to be within this loving, supporting, flourishing, and not to mention fun environment.

Because TWAC runs on little to no budget we are making an open call to action to everyone who wishes to help us raise money to cover general camp expenses (this can look like benefit shows, bake sales, secret cafes, house parties, dance parties- anything, we encourage creativity!!!), or help out with procuring food, camping supplies, and donations of all kinds to make camp as fabulous as humynly possible.

What we need for maximum camp fierceness: workshop trainers of all types, SO much food (taking various dietary choices and allergies into account- think vegetarian/vegan- contact us with questions, we want as much communal food for everyone to enjoy as possible!), camping supplies (see list below), climbing gear (for all lovely shapes and sizes of bodies), discussion facilitators, medics, childcare volunteers, musicians, poets, storytellers, performers of all persuasions, forest defenders, warriors against patriarchy and industrial civilization, reproductive freedom fighters, namely YOU!

Feel free to contact TWAC organizers at twac@riseup.net about anything and everything concerning this year’s Trans and Womyn’s Action Camp, we look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in the forest!

For a glossary of terms, click here

MAKING CONNECTIONS: WHY GENDER INCLUSION MATTERS

Oppression and control of the environment stems from social hierarchy and social control. Challenging sexism and racism is just starting to become a focus for many radical environmental groups. Understanding the links and commonalities of similar oppression within different social justice movements is key in fighting injustice and building larger communities.

Most radical environmental groups have left Gender Issues far behind in the quest for liberation. It is crucial to look critically at gender issues in the radical environmental movement, just as it is to look at racism, sexism, classism. Just like any other social grouping, gender variants span racial, sexual, economic and political backgrounds. If we are to expand our allies and build an inclusive movement that works against the roots of oppression, challenging social hierarchy in all its forms, then a gender revolution will only be meaningful if it truly and individually empowers everyone.

For many radical environmentalists and anti-authoritarians, in general, there may be the temptation to “smash gender,” or reject gender differences or pronouns all together. This may seem logical to some. However, this leads to an alternate form of authoritarianism, rooted in oppression. First, it denounces all experiences- good or bad- of people fighting for personal gender identity and liberation. Second, it is just reinforcing the oppressive constructs in which people are not free to choose their own identity. If one is constantly fighting oppression like people do who experience sexism, racism, classism, transphobia, homophobia, etc.- it’s safe to say that that fighting that type of oppression will most likely come first in activism priorities. If we, as radical environmentalists want an inclusive, ever expanding movement to help the Earth, we must create that- safer, inclusive communities that acknowledge the diversity that comes forth and not perpetuate the oppressive natures that under-represented folks fighting for liberation endure.

Gender must be liberated, but we all must have a voice in what that means, not from an abstract pre-determined theory, but a synthesis of real people’s experiences. Any strategy toward liberation must maintain the integrity of all our experiences and be willing to question how different communities can accept divergent and opposing needs without creating an atmosphere of punishing silences and real violence. We have a long way to go; our power is in drawing on our collective weaknesses and strengths.

A part of any revolutionary process involves listening to oppressed communities without assumptions. Questions and criticisms are a part of this, as well as continually questioning and criticizing ourselves.

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TINY FISTS TOUR Benefit for TWAC!

April 13, 2012

Radical folk concert with Evan Greer and Bonfire Madigan
Tuesday April 17th 8:00pm-11:00pm
The Lorax Manner 1648 Alder St. (Eugene, OR)

The TINY FISTS TOUR features legendary riot-grrrrl cellist BONFIRE MADIGAN
and queer riot-folk! singer EVAN GREER: two families full of feminist
folk fury traveling together with an arsenal of stringed instruments,
babies, and a whole lot of reusable diapers!

This is a benefit show for: 
Trans and Womyn's Action Camp
Civil Liberties Defense Center
Northwest Ecosystem Survey Team (NEST)

$5 - 15 sliding scale suggested donation.  Please pay what you can.

http://twac.wordpress.com/
http://cldc.org/
http://nestcascadia.wordpress.com/

BONFIRE MADIGAN
www.bonfiremadigan.com

EVAN GREER (of Riot-Folk!)
www.evangreer.org

ABOUT THE ARTISTS of the TINY FISTS TOUR:

Bonfire Madigan Shive is a visionary cellist, vocalist, composer,
performing artist, community activist, and international touring
musician. Starting on cello at the age of nine, Madigan Shive began her
composing career at fifteen in the Pacific Northwest Riot Grrrl scene
releasing music with seminal independent record labels K and Kill Rock
Stars. Shive has gone on to establish herself as a singular and
trailblazing performer, blending folk, art, punk, classical and
avant-baroque styles. She has collaborated with artists including Jolie
Holland, Elliot Smith, Joan Jeanrenaud from Kronos Quartet, and David
Coulter of The Pogues. Madigan has composed/performed original scores
for major theater productions and shared stages with legends like Kimya
Dawson, Neko Case, Cat Power, Gossip, Fugazi, Bright Eyes and Modest
Mouse. She’s a contributing author to the anthology Live Through This:
On Creativity and Self-Destruction (Seven Stories Press), sharing
company with bell hooks, Nan Goldin, Kate Bornstein, and other great
artists. In addition, Madigan is a founding collective member of The
Icarus Project, a grassroots support and media network led by people
living with experiences commonly labeled "mental illness."

“Madigan Shive is the vocal and lyrical heart of this avant-garde
chamber pop outfit, whose members occasionally rotate. Equal parts
feminist polemics, civil disobedience, and raw poetic power, it's not
for the faint of heart or weak of mind. Oh, and she plays a mean cello,
too.”

— The Village Voice

----

“Evan Greer is an eloquent and energetic writer. (S)he reminds me of Phil Ochs.”

--Dr. Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States

Evan Greer is a genderqueer singer/songwriter, parent, and community
organizer based in Boston, U$A. (S)he writes and performs high-energy
acoustic songs that inspire hope, build community, and incite
resistance! At 25 years old, Evan tours internationally as a musician
and facilitates interactive workshops to support movements for justice
and liberation. Armed with a repertoire of fiercely radical songs that
vary in style from pop-punk poetry to foot-stompin’ bluegrass
singalongs, Evan has shared stages with artists as musically diverse as
Pete Seeger, Immortal Technique, Billy Bragg, Tom Morello of Rage
Against the Machine, Anne Feeney, Holly Near, Boots Riley of The Coup,
Pamela Means, Oi Polloi, State Radio, The Mammals, and Chumbawamba,
Defiance Ohio, and Vicci Martinez.

"Evan Greer continues to
write inspiring folk music in the tradition of the great protest
singers...and (s)he's a heck of a guitar player. I suspect that songs
like 'Ya Basta!' and 'Picketline Song' will be heard at the barricades
for years to come."

--Tom Morello, guitarist of Rage Against the Machine

http://www.facebook.com/events/355966111115927/#!/events/355966111115927/

Creating New Languages for Wellness/Madness: an interactive workshop on
...the intersections of community, creativity and healing with Bonfire Madigan
co-founder of the Icarus Project.  

Tuesday April 17th 454 Willamette St. Eugene, OR
Grower's Market (2nd Floor) by the train station 454 Willamette St. Eugene, OR
Look for a round table.

Bonfire Madigan Shive
~
Creating New Languages for Wellness/Madness: an interactive workshop on
...the intersections of community, creativity and healing.

What does it mean to be called crazy in a world gone mad? Could what is
defined as sickness be sacred? In this flexible workshop format
facilitated by original Riot Grrrl
 cellist/activist/composer mother,
bipolar label survivor, founding member of The
 Icarus Project (TIP),
and international performing artist personality BMad Shive will guide
participants on a journey of defining wellness and madness on their
own terms shaped by one's own experiences and community needs as
opposed to a dominant medical paradigm of disease, disorder and
deficiency. This capacity based approach to self healing through
creativity, narrative and community care is at the core of TIP's
founding.  TIP is the country's largest peer-run and peer-led online
mental health community center, alternative media
making hub and voluntary
mutual aid support network. Using her chapter in the feminist anthology
Live Through This: On Creativity and Self- Destruction as a jumping off
point (wherein Shive publishes her "Mad Map" & where her story sits between
articles by bell hooks, Nan Goldin, and Kate Bornstein) she will encourage
attendants to begin or continue to chart their
 own inner emotional terrain
(or Mad Map) achieving further tools to translate a personal journey into
a collective language we can utilize and share on a path of rooting strength
in our diversity.

For wheelchair access call (541) 953-8537. 

Sponsored by the UO Survival Center and MindFreedom International

http://pages.uoregon.edu/survival/
http://www.mindfreedom.org/

For further info please visit
http://bonfiremadigan.com/
http://theicarusproject.net/

http://www.facebook.com/events/355966111115927/#!/events/407423219269124/