Les Rayonnantes: a look back at the first days of the camp

Read on Rayonnantes.org

It’s already Thursday, August 19!!! The camp started 4 days ago and time is going fast.

We were more than 400 per day, and it keeps going up! 120 kg of bread each day, thanks to the mobile bakery 😉

with all these people, it takes a lot of self-organization, fortunately we have a large collection of panels on which we can subscribe to the multiple tasks.a big thank you to all the people who signed up for the slots of the reception tent, to help with the cooking, the preparation of the bread, taking charge of the dishes, setting up the breakfast, the storage of the meals, slots to be in the child’s space but also for surveillance rounds, for medic rounds, for active listening, to manage the toilets, to ensure that there are stocks of paper, gel, etc.

There are also the people who give the time (because not everyone has a watch or phones), the people who remind us of the importance of filling this table: when self-management becomes the meta self-management, it’s not nothing. The (r)evolutionary group also proposes facilitation and organization processes for people who want to bring issues/propositions to the whole camp (for example, regarding cohabitation with non-human animals, regarding the ratio to partial nudity, etc.).

The translation team with all their equipment allows non-French speakers to participate as much as possible to the camp. We are proud to say that we translate into English, German, Italian and Spanish!

The festive and determined gathering is just around the corner, and the Rayonnantes are putting their stone to the building. Every day, workshops for the formation of action groups are organized, for example. These actions groups will be useful to prepare collectively for action, to make decisions and to support each other during action. There are times to create these groups, but also to train to deal with physical and psychological pressures… The collective movement workshops give us a time to have a good laugh and also to shout out slogans while moving forward in an agile and determined way, facing cops armed with pool toys. Every day, you can also go see the puppet show presenting the coming gatherings and you can go ask some questions to the legal café. And then the artivism tent is here to let creativity express itself

(the helicopter continues to make its pleasant visits and the infotraffic cops continue to fill up)

The workshops are multiplying, it’s hard to choose from all the choices. We can learn more about the anti-nuclear struggles, including local issues, or participate in discussions about the energy system, land grabbing, cybersecurity issues, energy colonialism, media relations… There are plenty of workshops in gender diversity chosen by MINT, or queer, or in gender chosen by racialized people to exchange on specific topics or simply to support each other and share their emotions.

In addition to this, there are several spaces in chosen mixity, in addition to camping: spaces without white people, MINT spaces(Meufs, Intersexes, Non-binaires, Trans), QUEER spaces and spaces for neurodivergent people… There is also a rage caravan, a space without social interaction, chill space, child’s space … In short, for all needs. A information caravan about decolonial issues is also set up, with books, leaflets and hot drinks to discuss these issues.

Thursday is construction day with the Semeuse maraichaires collective. There was a fanfarre start accompanied by pink and silver music and percussion!

In the evenings, you can choose between sleeping early, attending screenings or theatre shows, chilling by the fire that turns into an improvised choir or going to the party area for a live set or a jam session! We can also make cookies or yogurt cakes in the dessert area. Wednesday night, the party area was without cis-het people and Thursday night, it’s MINT and wrestling!

There are still a lot of things that could be told…. We leave it up to the camp’s automedia, which works on a fanzine. And then also sound recordings. And micro sidewalks. And murals. Business to follow!

19/08/2021