Also see the program booklet of the camp.
We are the camp together
This is a collective camp. This means that we bear common responsibility to make the camp run smoothly, that it stays clean and to make sure that everyone feels welcome, comfortable and safe. There will be calls during the general assemblies to fill in specific roles. This can be anything from helping to prepare the food, to doing the dishes, to make sure there are people at the info tent or clean the toilets.
If you see people misbehave, then call them on their behaviour. Do not only clean up your own trash but also trash that other people might have forgotten to take with them.
What follows are a couple of rules and guidelines to make sure everyone experiences the camp in a nice manner. Read them carefully. Some rules or guidelines might be new for you. Try to keep an open mind for new perspectives. Discuss these things in a friendly manner and try to empathize with your fellow beings.
General behaviour
It is our ambition to have the camp as ‘safe’ shared space where any form of discrimination or repression is not tolerated. Racism, sexism, ableism (discrimination and marginalising of people with diverse bodily and intellectual abilities), classism, homophoby, transphoby and islamophoby are not allowed. Sexual violence and abuse will not be tolerated. Maintain an open mind for the fact that you can be called out in the case that your behaviour conflicts with the house rules. IN those moments try to be understanding rather then to get defensive. If you experience one or several things of the above, you can notify one of our buddy team members/ confidence persons. You can find the contact information for these people in the info tent.
Journalists on the camp
The media and communications (MECOM) working group has written a protocol for journalists. In this manner we want to make sure that everyone feels that their privacy is safeguarded at the camp while also offering media and documentary makers the opportunity to give report on the action.
Journalists should report their presence to MECOM either by mailing coderood-mecom at riseup.net or on arrival at the camp. The journalists can sometimes be accompanied by MECOM on the camp. All media, journalists, photographers and documentary makers will get a batch from MECOM, which they can show to participants of Code Rood to proof that their presence has been registered by MECOM. If they want to interview the participants they should always directly tell that they are journalists. Participants are always free to decline and show them one of the press spokes people. The names of participants can only be cited with explicit permission of the participant.
Journalists are free to walk around in the common areas and film during the two hours after lunch. Only a few documentary makers and journalists are invited to report outside these hours. Participants can always check this at the press tent. On any other time slot anyone should first ask if they can take pictures or film of people. They should always have explicit permission to do so before filming or taking pictures.
It is never allowed to take pictures or film during the general assemblies. It is also forbidden to do so in the meditation tent and at places where people sleep, since they should always feel safe to retreat there.
Anyone is of course allowed to talk with the media (on Friday there is a media training). The media & communications working group will also organise specific ‘media-friendly’ affinity groups with people who enjoy talking to media and are prepared to do so. Please contact MECOM if you would like to join a group like this.
Animals on the camp
A climate camp is not a good place for our fourlegged friends. Please leave them home if possible. This is difficult, but experiences from other camps prove that this is necessary. A guide dog is of course permitted.
If you really can’t find another option or you are dependant on your pet as support, you can bring your animal. However, they should always be on a leach! Be aware that people might be scared of dogs, even yours, no matter how friendly it is. Make sure your dog to clean your dogs disposals at the camp and don’t get offended when someone has problems with your animal’s behaviour. Please keep your animal away from the mediation tent, the first aid tent and the kitchen!
Do not bring any animals during the action!
Topless
When it’s really warm, many people take off their shirts.
However, in our societal context taking off your shirt is a privileged that not everybody has and symbolic for specific oppressive structures in our society. Being confronted with a naked torso can provoke negative associations and lead to discomfort in some people. Since not everybody is aware of the complexities related to this issue we suggest the following guidelines at the camp.
In our society the sight of a naked male torsos (that matches the Western beauty standard) is socially accepted, whereas the bodies of women*, trans* inter are often objectified and sexualized. People affected by sexism but choose to walk around top-less in reponse often get stared at, judged and even confronted with aggression. This sexualization of bodies is at the root of many social taboos: While men are relatively free to show their bodies, female*, trans* inter bodies are subject to strict censorship (eg by having to cover their nipples).
We live in a world where sexual violence and abuse is not an exception but a social reality. In the case when people have experienced sexual abuse the unwanted confrontation with a naked male torso can bring up undesired memories and provoke emotional stress.
Of course, showing your naked torso can also be an act of liberation and emancipation against oppressive societal structures and a strategy to counteract current social norms. However, this is a difficult and often tiring process that not everybody feels able to, or wants to engage in. Therefore it is important that people are able choose themselves when they want to be confronted with naked bodies.
In our struggle for a better world it needs to be acknowledged that we are starting in a society where hetero- normative norms and sexual abuse exists. Therefore we hope to create a space in this camp where everybody is aware/ becomes aware of their own privileges and to experiment with alternatives. Nevertheless, we must recognize our limits, and in particular the boundaries of others, especially since we are living together for a limited time in relatively limited space. This means that the climate camp is not a living utopia for all, but a way to get there.
That’s why we ask everybody to reflect and to do a quick self-check before taking off their shirt. If you want to take off your shirt, ask the people around you if they feel comfortable with it. During the plenary sessions, workshops, eating hours and in the EHBO-, meditation- and info tent everybody is asked to keep thier upper body covered.
Alcohol and drugs
We understand it can be nice to have a drink from time to time. However, we aim to keep the camp alcohol free for most of the time. Therefore, we have assigned different zones where you can enjoy a drink (for example in the bar).
Never ever smoke inside the tents! Some people can be really bothered by the smoke. Also there is a danger of fire. Furthermore, all the cigarette butts should be picked up. Because of all these reasons we ask you to only smoke in the designated areas.
Never use hard drugs at the camp
During the action we will all be sober! Also for smoking there can be different rules. If we are, for example, in the surroundings of coal or gasoline, it’s unsafe to smoke and we will not do that under any circumstance. During the action briefing on friday evening there will be more clarity about the different safety risks and guidelines during the action.
Safety
We are a big group of people, so we have to take care of each other. Don’t make any fire in the surroundings of dry grass and close to tents.
We make the camp together which also means we have to watch it together. If you see anything suspicious, please report this at the information tent or with the people who are doing security watch shifts. You can find the number at the information tent.
There are security watch shifts during the whole day and night. If you are able to take on a shift, please do so!
In case of emergency we will sound an alarm. If you hear the alarm, you have to go to the main tent immediately! Also do this when it’s during the night and you have to leave your own tent. The situation can be unsafe, so it’s important to be ready together.
(Political) parties at the camp and during the action
The camp and the action are of course great places to show with which party, organisation or group you identify. Not only is it interesting to see the different backgrounds, it’s also a good moment for discussions and conversations. We provide space for promotion, for example, at the information tent where you can leave flyers and stickers.
However, we do ask groups, organisations and parties to be modest with their ‘branding’. A flag or shirt is of course OK. Twenty big flags and huge banners not. This can be overwhelming and have a big influence on the atmosphere and image of the camp and action. Code Rood is organised bottom-up and horizontally by individuals who voluntarily put a lot of time into this project. Therefore, it’s not intended to make statements as a group, and not claim the hard work of others.
Especially political parties who are active in Parliament are asked to show constraint. People who are part of a political party are always welcome to join as a person (instead of representing their party). The best way for political parties to show their support is to sign our manifesto or to publish a solidarity statement on their website or social media channels.
