I58-Network

After much planning and preparing, a few setbacks from the police and with the wrong tent, the cafe ran throughout Climate Camp and was generally perceived to be a resounding success. Here's some of what happened and what we achieved during the week.

We've got nearly everything we need to run the cafe, and in just a few hours, we'll be taking it all to Climate Camp to set it up and get started on our mission to "make tea for the weary activist". The site of the camp has been revealed, and its open to all to come and see it. We have a long week ahead, but people seem pretty excited. Come along to climate camp between now and Sunday 10th August and find out what it's all about.

In an attempt to cut into the news stream between General Synod and Methodist Conference on the one hand, and Lambeth on the other, we've just sent off our press release, and so its here for your enjoyment and usage. If you read any Christian papers or magazines, do keep an eye out for it. See you at the camp; its only 3 weeks away!

The Cafe is definitely going ahead, as we've presented the proposal to a Climate Camp gathering and consensus was reached. This is quite a major milestone, and we now have help from the site working group (the people who make the camp a physical reality) in getting a marquee hired. Now we need to worry about what to put in the marquee, and getting the word out to as many Christians as possible.

Please keep these dates free in your diaries, as we hope to be meeting in Sheffield over this weekend. Expect a weekend of reflection, prayer, decision making and plenty of time to relax and socialise.

At a guess, we'd start with food for those who arrive Friday from 6pm, followed by social time and reflection of some kind. Saturday will hold most of the decision making, Sunday morning we'd join the local church for their service and Sunday lunch time and afternoon we'd clear up the loose-ends. Cost will be about £10 for food, and accommodation will be 'church hall floor' style!

See also: Google Map for getting to the venue, and Provisional Timetable (Wiki page).

After much time spent discussing this on the email list, and many checks with people who might want to attend, we've now nailed a date and venue. We will be holding the gathering from the evening of Friday 5th October to the lunchtime of Sunday 7th, at the Ramparts Centre in Whitechapel London. During the Saturday we will discuss the future of I58, so if you're too busy to lose a whole weekend, just come for the day (we won't get going till 11am at the earliest, don't worry).