Friday 16th July – Sunday 18th July
Continental House, Daylesford

It was only a year ago that not a single state except Tasmania had a moratorium on GE crops. The Federal Government and its pro-GE agenda was set to approve the release of a slew of GE crops into the environment and food chain. One year later, every canola growing state has a GE moratorium, consumer resistance to GE is increasing and even the secret trade in GE soy feed for chickens is on the radar of shoppers. Monsanto has abandoned GE canola in Australia. The credibility of the OGTR is disappearing and the lamentations of pro-GE scientists show how little they understand of the debate.

It has been an amazing year and it has been accomplished by a diverse bunch of individuals and groups with common passion and common ground fighting on a variety of fronts a war that at one stage seemed unwinnable.

On the back of thiese wonderful movement accomplishments, we invite you to join GE activists from Australia, NZ and the UK to celebrate, scheme and collaborate.

Objectives
1. Build relationships among Australian GE activists;
2. To develop a shared understanding of GE campaign strategy in Australia;
3. Build the knowledge base of GE activists in Australia;
4. Improve communication networks between GE activist groups;
5. Bring new activists into the campaign;
6. Inspire people!
7. Public activities coinciding with the event.

The gathering will include
· Presentations from all groups about their work
· Plenary - strategic overview of the GE issue in Australia
· Plenary - global GE campaign update
· Open Space workshops
· Public forum/debate
· Public workshops about the content/issues
· Stalls/info swap
· Good GE-free, vegan food
· Group action / press conference (Monday)

Workshop facilitators will include…
Luke Anderson is an activist from the UK and author of the best-selling book 'Genetic Engineering, Food and Our Environment'. Since 1997 Luke has worked with environmental, social justice, and farming groups in Europe, the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Aotearoea New Zealand, focusing on grassroots resistance to genetic engineering, patents on life, and global economic institutions such as the WTO and the World Bank.

Steve Abel is a GE campaigner with Greenpeace New Zealand where he researched and produced the Greenpeace GE Free Food Guide following a long history of involvement in the public GE Free NZ campaign. Formally an Auckland coordinator of the Native Forest Action (NFA) Campaign which successfully brought an end to native timber logging on public land, Steve has also acted as spokesperson for the Wild Greens and was a candidate for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand in the 1999 and 2002 elections. He is a musician and currently lives in Auckland.

Jeremy Tager… Once silent now loud. Once a lawyer now not. Once coordinator of NQCC, now sane. Once environment advisor to the Democrats now banging on the door from the outside. Now Greenpeace.

Tina Meckel has been working on GE since 1996 in Germany and Australia, the last 2 years with Greenpeace. Tina’s research explored the effects of the patentability of living organisms within the WTO TRIPS agreement and effects on biodiversity and indigenous people.

Zelka Grammer is an organic grower and NZ Landcare Group coordinator who has been an outspoken GE activist since becoming involved in exposing a inadequately contained GE tamarillo field trial in Kerikeri, Northland. As current Chairperson of GE Free Northland in Food & Environment and long standing committee member of GE Free NZ and Forest & Bird she works closely with environmental, farming groups, educators, iwi and independent scientists focusing on effective lobbying and upskilling of local government in order to achieve enforceable GE Free Zones and local autonomy. Zelka is a card carrying member of MADGE, Greenpeace, Campaign Against Foreign Control Aotearoa (CAFCA), a keen supporter of the Sustainability Council of NZ and seed saver!

Bob Phelps has been Director of the GeneEthics Network since its formation in January 1988. The Network co-ordinates over 4,000 groups and individuals, to promote public discussion, education and participation in policy development, on the economic, environmental, social and ethical impacts of gene technology and its products. Bob is a leading participant in Australian and overseas forums on biosafety, food standards, and regulation and related issues.

About Open Space (gathering format)
Open Space Technology (OST) is a dynamic, clearly-structured model which responds to the needs of the people who attend. Times are allotted in the program and spaces are available for concurrent workshops. Anyone can propose a workshop on an issue they feel is important. Workshops are mapped out on a grid. Participants attend the workshops of their choice. Participants define and create the conference they want. The principles of OST are: (1) whoever comes are the right people; (2) it starts when it’s meant to; (3) when it’s over, it’s over; (4) whatever happens is the only thing that could have; and (5) you are free to do what is of value to you. [http://www.openspaceworld.org / http://www.brisbanesocialforum.org]

Getting there by public transport
Train-bus from Spencer Street to Daylesford
· Friday 5.33pm from Spencer St arrives in Woodend 6.33pm. Connecting bus departs
· 6.40pm and arrives in Daylesford 7.25pm.
· Saturday 10.15am from Spencer St arrives in Woodend 11.14am. Connecting bus departs 11.20am and arrives in Daylesford 12.05pm (missing the morning workshops).
· Sunday 4.30pm coach from Daylesford arrives in Woodend 5.15pm. Connecting train departs 5.21 and arrives at Spencer St 6.26pm.
· Minibus transfer from Daylesford to Continental House arranged on request – ph 0438 740 451 on arrival
· Fare: Spencer St-Daylesford return $29.20 / $14.60 conc.
· Call 13 6196 or visit http://www.victrip.com.au for further information.

Private transport
· From Melbourne-South: Take Westgate Freeway or Ballarat Rd to Western Highway, turn off about 30km before Ballarat on C141 to Daylesford and Spa Region.
· From Melbourne-North: Take Tullamarine freeway to Calder Highway and turn off at Woodend for Daylesford.

About the venue
· The gathering will be held at the Continental House. In Daylesford, take taxi, bicycle, drive or walk down the hill to Hepburn Springs. Turn left into Golden Springs Avenue, 50 metres from bottom, opposite Spa Resort. Proceed 100 metres and turn right into Lone Pine Avenue. Continental House is No 9 on right behind large cypress hedge. Reception downstairs. Further details available http://www.continentalhouse.com.au
· Details of alternative local accommodation available through Daylesford Accommodation Service (03) 5348 1448 or http://daylesford.stays.com.au/browse.html

Bring
· Creative campaign ideas
· Campaign literature, leaflets and posters
· Sleeping bag or bedding, warm clothes, towel, pillow, musical instruments

Cost
Registration, meals and accommodation $100 - $200 sliding scale.

The Skillshare follows the Students of Sustainability (SoS) conference in Melbourne July 10-16 and is supported by the SoS organising group and Greenpeace Australia Pacific.

http://sofs.org.au http://www.greenpeace.org.au

Friday Saturday Sunday
7.25pm Train from Spencer St7.45 Check in8pm Dinner 8.30 Check in9.30am OpeningOverview of campaign strategies in Australia and international updateOpen space format explained and initiated 10.00am Open Space 3
11am Updates from around the country, presentations from all groups 11.15m Open Space 4
12.30 Lunch 12.30 Lunch
1.30 Open Space 1 1.30 Open Space 5
3.00 Open Space 2 2.30 Report back from workshops
6.30pm GE Free Dinner – Harvest CafeThe Australian GE campaign in a global contextDiscussion led by…Luke Anderson (UK), Steve Abel (NZ) 3.30pm Closing discussion4.30 Train to Spencer St

RegistrationComplete and return to Greenpeace by July 3rd. Ph: (02) 9331 2861 Fax: (02) 9331 2784Places are strictly limited. Only register if you intend to participate – and let us know if you need to cancel.
Name
Postal address
Phone Fax
Email
Coming for q the whole thing (Friday 6pm – Sunday 5pm)q Friday q Saturday 9-5 q Saturday dinner q Sunday
Accommodation preference q Continental House (space for up to 50)q Other (for options, visit http://daylesford.stays.com.au/browse.html)
Special dietary requirements (all meals will be GE-free, vegan and mainly organic)
Carpooling(to/from RMIT) q I have ___ spaces available in my car/vehicle, coming from ______________q I need a lift from ______________
Organisational affiliation (if applicable)
Current or previous GE campaign experience / role (if applicable)
Suggested topic/s(the Open Space format invites participants to propose topics and create an agenda that reflects their interests) 1.2.3.
Registration (includes meals and accommodation at Continental House)q $100 (unwaged) ORq $150 (medium income $20-$40k) ORq $200 (higher income >$40k)plusq $25 Harvest Café dinner (Saturday night)Total= $
q Please find enclosed my cheque for $ _________ payable to Greenpeace ABN No 61 002 643 852
o Please charge my credit card o Visa o MasterCard o??? Bankcard o??? Amex
Cardholder’s name
Cardholder’s signature
Exp Date: / Card No: Amount: $
This tax invoice becomes a receipt upon payment. All Cancellations must be made in writing. Cancellations by telephone will not be accepted. Cancellations received after Friday 9h July will be subject to an administration charge of $10.00. No refund will be made after Tuesday 13th July.