Les Bestiales #2 from February 20 to 24, 2025 in Bure (55)
Why Les Bestiales #2 ?
After a first edition of Les Bestiales in the winter of 2023 where we were about a hundred, we are proposing new anti-speciesist meetings at the Maison de Résistance in Bure.
We have the impression that in the midst of ecological, anti-fascist, decolonial emergencies, etc., it is sometimes hard to take the time to discuss/reflect/act on struggles that are just as central and intertwined such as anti-speciesism (and anti-nuclear). In winter, it’s cold, not much happens, so why not meet in the Meuse to meet, share, exchange about anti-speciesism?
We see speciesism as a systemic oppression that feeds on itself and feeds other oppressions, intertwined with each other, so our desires for these meetings is to have an anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist approach and a self-managing organization. Care will be taken not to convey systemic oppressions.
COVID (please really read)
If you can, it’s important to get tested before you come (PCR test in a lab because the others are unreliable and in france it’s reimbursed at 100% if you have a mutual insurance company). The epidemic is still going strong, and more and more people are suffering lifelong after-effects. It’s still killing people, especially the most oppressed (people with disabilities and those in precarious and/or racialized situations who have less access to healthcare).
Practical information
The information here will be added to bureburebure.info as it happens.
[Update of 15-02-2025]:
– A shuttle phone is available, you can contact it if you need a ride for the last kilometers, we will arrange to pick you up. It’s on +33 7 44 13 62 11 (in SMS or call), and on Signal (preferably!) or via XMPP (shitake@xmpp.is)
– An infotrafflic phone (to report/inform about police checks around Bure) is joingnable at : + 33 7 51 31 46 49 in SMS/call, on signal or on XMPP (coprin@xmpp.is)
Don’t forget to bring warm clothes, a good sleeping bag (if possible), a headlamp (and if you can bring blankets it will always be useful)
Registration
To help us anticipate the logistics, it’s cool if you pre-register. It’s anonymous, not mandatory and not engaging, but it gives us an idea of the number of people.
Schedule and workshops
The last update of the schedule is here :
We will try to imagine/organize workshops but we also really want to co-think these meetings and their content with you. We hope that you will come with your ideas for discussions/workshops/etc to share together what our anti-speciesisms are and our ways of putting them into action.
Feel free to tell us in the form or by email if you want to lead things or co-construct a workshop with us, on topics that speak to you and seem important to you. There will also be spaces during the meetings for unscheduled workshops if you want to think about something and see how you feel about it in the moment.
Among other things, we are looking for workshops that would talk about anti-speciesism but also about decolonial struggles, anti-capitalism, anti-ableism, etc.
Accessibility
For these meetings, we want to think about accessibility (in a broad sense) beforehand. This doesn’t mean we think our event is overly accessible. We want to be transparent.es on how the event is conceived/constructed. Updates will be given here as they become available.
A table summarizes the points on which the event seems accessible or not : https://lite.framacalc.org/charte-d39accessibilite-acfo.html
To contact us, the address is always: rencontres-animales@immerda.ch
Points we want to think about:
- Workshops on ableism (and possibly the links, or not, with speciesism)
Beyond ticking boxes to arrive at a sufficiently “accessible” or “inclusive” event, we tell ourselves that we really want people/collectives directly concerned to come and talk about these subjects, to try to collectively think about these questions.
- Physical accessibility
At the Maison de Résistance (2 rue de l’Eglise, 55290 Bure), all the spaces on the ground floor are wheelchair accessible (kitchen, living room, office, a PRM bedroom, bathroom (not the shower), water toilet, multi room), but the floors are not. Only one accessible room with a double bed (warm!) is available, do not hesitate to contact us by email to book it!
For more details, here is a technical sheet of the place https://lite.framacalc.org/9facnejawp-aa0a.html
- Report on airborne infectious diseases (COVID, etc.). Wearing a mask will be encouraged, but it would be an illusion to think that people will really do it. There will be a lot of enclosed spaces, and there is a risk of contamination. As far as possible, we’d like to see this issue featured in the edition, to encourage people to wear masks and to install air purifiers, but we’re under no illusions that this event will not be accessible to people at risk.
If you can do a Covid PCR test in a laboratory before coming, please do so, and unless you have it, don’t come! If you have health insurance in France, it will be reimbursed. It’s important, anyone can have lifelong after-effects from COVID. If you’re not careful, you’re reproducing validism, racism and classism, as the people most at risk are those excluded from the healthcare system and people with disabilities.
- Other ideas (in bulk)
We want to provide quiet/isolated spaces, a meal service designed for (and with) people with eating disorders (EDs), protocols/materials in relation to infectious diseases (including Covid), the place of drugs (including alcohol) in these meetings, etc… If you are interested in thinking about all of this with us, you can contact us:)
Cold
We chose to change locations (Les Bestiales #1 were at the Luméville station) in order to have access to more heated spaces. At the resistance house, some spaces are heated, but others are not. Other places in the area can be used for sleeping areas (but not all are heated). Don’t hesitate to take your sleeping bag, warm clothes and a headlamp (it gets dark early in winter).
Food
On site will be provided vegan canteens and we will have provided what we need for breakfasts and meals. However, don’t hesitate to bring back what would make you happy to eat / share. The entire event will be free of charge: financial contribution according to possibilities and desires.
If you can make some dumbsterdiving on the way, it will be welcome However, we will only cook vegan stuff. Also the shops are far away, if there are little things that comfort you, don’t hesitate to buy some before.
Non-human animals
We realize that the Maison de Résistance is not ideal for welcoming non-humans who might want to accompany you, we will surely be a lot and rather tight inside to protect ourselves from the cold and bad weather. If you live with non-human friends who are rather stressed or uncomfortable being in the middle of other dogs or humans without too much space it can be complicated to live with, if you have other places where they can spend the weekend it can be easier for them and for us. If they come anyway we will do our best to include them, will offer spaces in the program to be able to do walks with them but the days locked up with humans who talk are not the funniest for them.
It’s up to you to see how it can be best managed and if you find more satisfactory solutions so that they can spend the weekend elsewhere or if you prefer to help them to be as good as possible in the conditions on site.
Police surveillance
It is also possible that there are requisitions from telephone operators or police IMSI Catchers to find out which phones have been connected in the territory. More information will be given closer to the event.
Costs/Cash
The event is entirely “prix libre” (this means you give what you can/want. For more transparency, during the meetings, expenses will be explained (they include food, expenses, etc.) As we plan a budget for expenses, don’t hesitate to ask us for help if you have financial difficulties to come!
If there is more money in the end, it will be used to support various anti-speciesist and/or fighting collectives in the Meuse. If you know of a collective linked to these struggles that needs financial assistance, do not hesitate to tell us about it.
How can we help?
– Share posters and communications in the places you know
– We are looking for people to carry a canteen for certain meals
– If you feel like doing translation during the event, don’t hesitate to send an email to rencontres-animales@immerda.ch
– Come a few days before/stay a few days after to help prepare/tidy up. The setting begins on 17/18 and unsetting ends on the 26th
– Offer workshops / bring back resources
– Any practical help during the event (self-management tasks, shuttle, care, etc.)
Contact
It is possible to write to rencontres-animales@immerda.ch for more information or questions.
16/10/2024
antispcism
Bestiales
meeting