Home - SR Editions - Socialist Resistance No.48

FI Summer camp 2007

Tracy Nguyen

Resistance sent a delegation of nine people to this year’s Fourth International Summer Camp at Barbaste in south-western France, which was attended by 418 people overall. There was a good balance between people going for the first time – 3 members of the delegation – and those who had been before. We had hoped a few others would join us, but in the end they could not. But thanks to everyone who helped us make our fund drive target and gave those of us who did go such a positive experience.

Our delegation ran three workshops: on Ecology and the Global South on the backlash effects of legislation and the systematic oppression of LGBT people and on queer theory. We found ways through quite informal approaches of making sure the discussions on these topics were organized in a way that allowed everyone to contribute.

In terms of other sessions, my particular favourites were Portugal’s workshop on decriminalization of abortion, Daniel Bensaid on changing the world without taking power and Belgium’s one on climate change. I also really enjoyed the practical workshop on barricading techniques Other highlights for me were the women’s day and women’s party, which were both highly enjoyable and educational.

I’m glad that Penelope Duggan will be speaking at our forum on Women’s Liberation in November because she gave a great presentation that day. It was coherent, historical yet very up to date with struggles of today.

The forum on Marxism and ecology given by Klaus Engert was clear, concise and led to a high level of debate. Alain Krivine also spoke on the lessons of the Russian Revolution. He was passionate about learning from our history. But I think most people would have preferred a forum on Socialism of the 21st Century.