Meetings around Vestas

We had a meeting in Derby around Vestas last night and I want to tell you about it, strengths, warts and all.

Firstly it was organised in a rush and while we did some work with trade unionists (our links are not fantastic) we could have done more. It was chaired by a local Trade Union Official, from Unison. About 40 people attended including about 10 from Nottingham. Also about 5 people came from the IWA and that is the first time they have attended one of our meetings. Maybe more than half were trade unionists or SWP or leftie libertarians. This affected to tone of the input, and I think we should have followed the speaker from Vesta (who was a comrade who rushed up from Isle of Wight at the last minute) with lots of questions and answers about Vesta before going onto the general contributions. I felt the meeting was more stereotypical Red than Green and I think Reds have to learn how to speak away from the pulpit (and Greens have to learn to use the pulpit). Incidentally there were also quite a few Christians there who are rather active in the Derby Campaign; one spoke. Don’t get me wrong - bridges were built and people went away inspired. One indication was the fact that we collected £180.

At the last minute we decided to have an input on climate, as well. I roped myself in to do this and I think this was useful - it was short and stressed the 'emergency nature'  - but it might have been better if had been done by somebody from one of the environmental groups. I was able to link 'Reds and Greens', which needed to be done.

Despite my reservations the meeting was important and is something that needs to be replicated everywhere and anywhere.

Other meetings have been taking place. We believe that 600 people met in Oxford. At this very moment all CCC supporters should be organising such meetings wherever you are. While the going is hot! And let us know what happened or is happening.