A Safer Space

(Thanks to the A Space Outside, Belladonna Live and Let DIY crew, the Gleneagles G8 2005 Dissent crew and the Grassroots Gathering Reader compiled in Belfast 2004 for letting us rip off bits from their Safer Spaces Statements and related articles).

We hope that everyone at this gathering is made aware of the idea of ‘safer spaces’ (information will be on the website, in the program, displayed around the venue).

We say ‘safer’ realising that no space can be entirely safe for everyone. Although there is often discourse on ‘equality’, we realise that not everyone experiences spaces in the same way as others.

Safer spaces are welcoming, engaging and supportive. We want this gathering to be a space where people take care of one another. We want people to feel that they can let their hair down and be themselves, knowing that they will be supported.

We are asking people to be proactive in creating a safer space.

People attending this gathering are asked to be aware of their language and behaviour, and to think about whether it might be offensive to others. This is no space for violence, for touching people without their consent, for being

intolerant of someone’s religious beliefs or lack thereof, for being creepy,

sleazy, racist, ageist, sexist, heterosexist, transphobic, ablebodiest, classist, sizist, or any other behaviour or language that may perpetuate oppression.

What we need to do to create a safer space at this gathering:

• Respect people’s physical and emotional boundaries

• Always get explicit verbal consent before touching someone or crossing

personal boundaries

• Respect peoples opinions, beliefs, differing states of being and differing

points of view

• Be responsible for your own action. Be aware that your actions do have an

effect on others

• Take responsibility for your own safety and get help if you need it

• Look out for kids at all times and try not to leave anything around that

would endanger kids

• The space is drug & alcohol free, and smoke-free

Any individual or group engaging in violence (including sexual violence and

harassment) within the space will automatically be excluding

themselves. The gathering will be asking them to leave the convergence

space.

Where relevant, some of these guidelines and thoughts may also be helpful:

Communal sleeping space

We understand that by having a communal sleeping space at a large

conference, unwanted/non-mutual/non-consensual sexual situations may

transpire. The reality of large communal sleeping spaces is that this DOES

happen, even if most of us self-identify as having ‘good’ politics. This

needs to be acknowledged and everyone needs to take responsibility for

preventing such situations. We are hoping that through making people aware

of this safer space policy, having a forum and workshops directed towards

sexual assault/consent/positive sexuality/safer spaces and providing wom*ns

only sleeping area for those who would like it, we will hopefully reduce the

chance of these situations occurring.

Chill out space

It can be intense to be surrounded by old and new friends/lovers in one

place; it can be intense to be surrounded by so many people yet barely know

anyone and feel alienated or awkward. It can be intense to participate in a

week of workshops/gigs/actions/parties/hanging out/barely sleeping.

When you’re out of your ‘comfort zone’ or not in your ‘hometown’, it is

important that you have a space to go when you freak out, feel anxious, feel

the pressure of constantly being surrounded by a lot of people, or if you

have your boundaries crossed and need to collect your thoughts.

The chill out space will provide a space that people can go to read.

Examining our own subtle and not-so-subtle prejudices

If we profess to be concerned about issues of race, gender and sexuality,

etc, we need to live our lives in way that proactively seeks to subvert

prejudice, to undermine the very possibility that someone will feel

discriminated against. This means treating people equally and expecting that

everyone has something amazing to contribute. It means not being tokenistic.

It means not acting awkward around people because you don’t know what to say

because they are queer or have dark skin. This space aims to explore/ acknowledge the subtle (and not so subtle) forms of sexism and racism within our own spaces and to tackle them head on.

It may seem slightly hypocritical that unfortunately, this space, like

many activist gatherings, is going to be dominated by white peoples. This is

something that we regret. It is part of a broader problem for which we are

all responsible, and we all need to address this. Our goals should include

engaging with people outside of a ‘radical clique’, and relating to people

from all different backgrounds in honest, radical and non-discriminatory

ways.

Need some assistance

If you experience or witness any behaviour that crosses your boundaries or

makes you feel uncomfortable or if you are feeling like you would like to

talk to someone anonymously about anything please ask at the

front-desk/entrance to the venue. There will also be mobile phone number

that you can call at any time. If the matter requires a sensitive listener

to help you deal with a situation that was somehow traumatic, people are

around who can play the role of helping you to debrief.

Conflict Resolution and the Boot

It is inevitable that there will be conflict in the time we are learning together. This can be an incredibly valuable thing if it is managed in a constructive manner.

We have designed a basic process for dealing with conflict, based around the

principle that a resolution deemed positive to all parties involved should

always be sought first.

Any conflict arising in the space that at least one party feels cannot be

resolved without some help, should seek the assistance of one of the members

of the Conflict Resolution Crew.

Cops and Owners (if squatting)

(Thanks to the Affordable Student Housing Collective for allowing us to rip

off this next bit).

We hope that on the first day of the gathering, we can have a very brief discussion and reach consensus about how we are going to deal with cops if and when the situation arises that we need to. We prepared the following as a suggested proposal that we can hopefully reach consensus on

pretty quickly.

1. The most important thing to remember is DO NOT LET THEM IN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

2. Tell them that we are in negotiations with the owners, that this is a matter of civil law, and it does not concern the police, thank you very much for assistance constable.

3. DO NOT admit to altering the property in any way, and if they ask how you got in, tell them that the door was open.

4. If asked who is in control, tell them that last time you heard it was a mix of George Bush and the Queen, but that they are welcome to talk to you in the mean time, although you cannot make any decisions on behalf of the group, nor can you speak for anybody but yourself.

For more general information about squatters rights, get your hands on a copy of the Melbourne Squatters Guide. There is usually a few lying around and it is an excellent source of information about squatting. If you can’t find a copy, it is online at www.geocities.com/squattersguide

Roster For Presence

There must be people at the space at all times. At any moment the coppers

may rock up requesting, amongst other things, a quiet chat with the

upstanding citizens. If no one is home, they may decide to let themselves

in, make a cup of tea and declare it reclaimed as the Victoria Police social

club and initiate a whole new era of Blue Light Disco.

As no one needs to relive their early adolescent experiences of drunken

pashing at the Blue Light, we will create a roster system to ensure that

there is always at least four or five people at the site.

On the wall there is a list, where everyone lists the times that they intend

to be at the space.

Please put yourself on this list. If you notice that there is a blank spot

and you can’t be there, please try and rope your mates into doin’ a stint.

It is a collective responsibility to make sure that we always have a

presence at the site.

Thanks for taking the time to read this