ANN Gathering Report The Australian Nonviolence Network (ANN) gathering of 1995 was the most comprehensively representative affair yet held. People came from all over Australia and we had international visitors; Howard Clark from England and Michael Graaf from South Africa. The first part of the weekend involved story sharing including music and art and enabled participants to get close quickly. Formation of support groups helped ease the stresses of operating in the larger group and developed productions for the social highlight of the weekend: the inaugural ANN Ball. Due to an accident, the butcher's paper notes of the work of the weekend were destroyed, however we have reconstructed what we could with the help of Robert and Margaret's notes. Food for the entire event was organized by the kitchen support team : James Langley, Louise Finnegan, Brendan Condon and Bernadette McCartney and arrived in delicious exquisitely presented order until we felt we were staying in a vegetarian restaurant. The wafting of coffee beans greeted us between sessions. Then, once again meeting participation and support roles were kept separate. Child care was a particular difficulty as most responsibility fell to one person (thanks Phil!). This needs careful consideration for next year. The facilitation collective would be interested in hearing from people who would be prepared to provide kitchen support and/or child care support for next year's gathering. Social days at the beginning and end of the gathering were great for us inter-staters to settle in and catch up. We divided into groups to discuss the following issues: (a) Phone Link Up (b) Education (c) Travel and International Visitors (d) Australian Humanitarian Aid for Bougainville (Queensland) (e) Principles of the Australian Nonviolence Network (f) Structure of the Australian Nonviolence Network (g) Key Contact People We have no notes available for items (c) and (d). Our sincere apologies to participants in those groups. Phone Link Up We discussed the difficulties of balancing the amount of time taken by individuals on the link-up and it was decided that the purpose of the PLU involves leadership support for key contact people, but needs a friendly flexible framework. The group felt that following check-ins and reports the facilitator can ask if anyone needs "debriefing" and that the time be based on the needs of individuals, i.e. more balance between task and maintenance approaches so that newer ANN members don't feel alienated. The PLU group updated the list of names and updated the recommendations to be sent to PLU Key Contact People and suggested an optional focus of the PLU to discuss specific issues such as the women only discussion on patriarchy. Education The focus of discussion of the education group was how to identify the resources being used for education in nonviolence around Australia and create a library of resource materials that could be shared to save on duplication and learn from people's experiences. The next stage is to identify people who are doing nonviolence education around Australia and contact them to collect useful resource materials and educational ideas in order to create a resource library. The following stage will involve getting feedback about the value of the resource materials so that the resource library can be maintained and improved. The Principles of the Nonviolence Network At the 1995 National Gathering of the Australian Nonviolence Network (ANN) the following Vision Statement and Principles were adopted. In practice this means that anyone who agrees with these principles is welcome to consider themselves a member of the ANN. Vision Statement The Australian Nonviolence Network (ANN) is part of the Global Nonviolence Network and exists to foster nonviolence in theory and practice. Principles These are principles; not rules. They are guiding statements that are used to help us in particular situations so that we make wise decisions. Using these principles we may make different decisions in different circumstances without compromising their essence1. As a member of the ANN, I agree that: * We will work to end all "power-over" structures and relationships and to build ones based on "power with" * We will work to build relationships, communities and structures that meet the needs of all living beings. * The means are ends. The means we use to bring about change must be consistent with our vision of a nonviolent world. * We will use consensual models of decision making, inclusive and empowering group processes and affirmative action where necessary. * We will develop processes for constructively supporting and challenging each other. * We will communicate with and consult the people affected by our initiatives. * We will strive to be truthful. * We will strive not to use ecological, physical, emotional or spiritual violence in our personal or political lives. * We will strive to show respect for all life and to acknowledge the humanity of all people, including our opponents. * We will strive to communicate assertively and to address conflict constructively. * We will take personal responsibility for our actions and their consequences. In addition In addition to this statement and these principles, the following points were raised: (1) Patriarchy and what this means to members of the ANN, is a complex issue that requires ongoing reflection and discussion. (2) There should be discussions about patriarchy (including discussions about what it means and what the ANN position in relation to it might be) in various fora throughout the network. (3) It would be desirable, if possible, for the women of the network to discuss patriarchy and to bring some shared sense of what they want to the next gathering. (4) The subject of ANN's position on feminism should be discussed at the next gathering with a view to seeking a new consensus that the vision statement and/or principles be modified to include explicit reference to the ANN's pro-feminist commitment. The Australian Nonviolence Network Structure The ANN structure group asked themselves three questions: What are the doors into ANN? What structures are there already? Are they working? The Doors It was identified that building relationships with new people who are interested in nonviolence is the way that people already involved in ANN open the doors and make them visible. * Weekend workshops build relationships but it is important for the facilitators to follow up those relationships and think about how the new person might best get involved. * Getting involved in an ANN action group or short project and building relationships. * Going to nights of nonviolence, ANN gatherings, social events etc. Structures already in Place * Key Contact People (KCP) in each area play the role of persistently pointing to the doors. The KCP now have a specific role description (see section below). * The Facilitation Collective. * The Centre for Nonviolence. * The Education Groups. * The Ongoing Action Groups. * The Phone Link Up * The Activist Exchange Key Contact People The Australian Nonviolence Network is committed to supporting its members to work for nonviolent change in their local communities. In order to do this more effectively, it has appointed a Network Facilitation Collective (NFC) to facilitate the development of the network and to manage the Centre for Nonviolence c/- Commonground (CNC). One of the ways in which the ANN supports its members and provides a way in which new people can find out about the network is through its key contact people. These Key Contact People have agreed to devote some of their activist time to helping other people to use the network more effectively. Therefore, these Key Contact People have agreed: (1) To act as the contact person for the ANN in their area; (2) To assist people to gain access to, and information about the ANN; (3) To encourage people in their efforts to develop an understanding of and a commitment to nonviolence, and to be available for queries/discussion; (4) To encourage people in their efforts to develop an awareness that they are part of the ANN and the global nonviolence Network (GNN) and to be available for queries/discussion; (5) To encourage people to complete and return the Network Contacts Form (an information sheet that allows people to say what they would like from the network and what they would like to offer). In order to keep themselves informed about developments taking place in the field of nonviolence in the ANN and in the Centre for Nonviolence (Commonground), Key Contact People are asked: (1) To subscribe to "Nonviolence Today"; (2) To participate in the ANN Phone Link Up (PLU) or to communicate regularly with the person in their area who does participate in the PLU; (3) To accept publication of their name and preferred contact address in Nonviolence Today and/or other appropriate places. There are many ways in which a key contact person might assist someone. For example, an activist involved in a local campaign might want to find out how they can plan and organise their campaign more effectively. Once they are in touch with the key contact person in their area (and this might happen in one of many ways), they can be told the nearest person who might be able to assist them by acting as a consultant or by conducting a suitable workshop. They can be informed about the existence of resources such as Nonviolence Today, the Introductory Nonviolence Workshop Kit, and the libraries (in various parts of the country) of books and videos that might be borrowed. And they can be given the opportunity to make contact with groups in the network working on related issues. International Fax Howard Clark was contacted by the Oldenberg Grassroots Group concerning actions against the transportation of radioactive waste from the Phillipsburg nuclear reactor near Karlsruhre to near Hamburg and a solidarity letter was prepared and signed by those concerned on behalf of the ANN and faxed back. Centre Support for the Centre from the Lance Reichstein Foundation allowed for investment in office equipment including a laser printer, photocopier and fax was recognized in a large "Thank you" poster signed by participants during the gathering. We recognize that there were some "sticky" bits during the weekend, for example the cost sharing exercise which was reduced in time and became difficult to facilitate, as did gender issues. From the WA group, we found a few interesting questions such as how the network handles on-going problems, such as the Patriarchy issue this time and the existence of some "uncool" issues such as "the Greens". Between Sessions Groups Between sessions, groups informally discussed issues such as an ANN simulation communications exercise organised by Brian Martin, global economics and nonviolence with Ed, making training consistent, scholars finding research opportunities, the forging of links with new networkers in Queensland and the AHAB group in Melbourne. Many thanks to the facilitation collective for a fine, well organised event which was welcoming and comfortable to newcomers to the Gathering. Help Wanted! The facilitation collective is keen to hear from volunteers to help with kitchen and child care support for next year's gathering. Patsy, Brenda and Dani Groundswell, WA. Note: 1. For example, consider the principle of striving to be truthful. In planning a nonviolent action campaign, being truthful may mean informing our opponents of our intentions. However, in protecting a survivor of domestic violence from further assault, being truthful may mean refusing to reveal the location of the survivor.