The Big Blether is a conference and meeting place for activists with ideas, enthusiasm and information.

Topics so far confirmed include:
• Preparing for the Climate Change Camp
• Pixie Pictures
• Discussing climate change issues
• Camcorder Guerillas
• Spiritual activism and creative campaigning
• Faslane 365
• Direct action at the military gateway
• Ecofootprints
• Hydro walk and tour
• Woodland crafts
• Crafts demonstration
• Biodiesel
• Deep ecology
• Permaculture
• Guided eco walk around the grounds of Laurieston Hall
• Yoga
• No Borders – ‘Direct action - defending families from dawn raids’ and ‘Law changes’
• Walk and talk around the walled vegetable garden and greenhouses

Please note that this list is liable to change!

Booking a place
Entry includes full board and camping space, as well as access to BB5: please don't come set to self cater: we'll be asking for a donation of £25-£55* per adult on the door (suggested reductions for kids: 0-1 nil; 1-4, £7; 5-11, £13; 12-16, £19*). Gate opens at 2pm on Friday 5th of May 2006. This includes all your vegan/veggie meals and snacks from our hosts Laurieston Hall, though most accommodation will be in our own tents…

*If you cannot afford this much please get in touch as we may be able to provide a little assistance to a few people, but only if you let us know in advance.Please note: This is a non-profit event: organisers and facilitators are paying their own way and any money left over will go into the next Blether.

Places are limited to 180 people, so to avoid disappointment please try to book in advance. It is important for Laurieston Hall to know of numbers in advance to make sure there’s enough food. There will, however, be some spaces left for first-come, first served on the gate. Email book(a)bigblether.org.uk (replacing (a) with @) to start the dialogue. Payment can be made by cheque to: ‘Scottish Environmental Association’.

Kids
There will be no organised kids programme but yoga for kids, activism for kids and their inclusion in workshops will happen if there’s demand on a parent-carer self-organising basis. Football, hide and seek, and hopefully volleyball for EVERYONE, not just kids, will be programmed in for sure though!

Workshops
Despite this small piece of prescription, the Big Blether is not run by a handful for the many, but is the creation of everyone who comes. If you feel you'd like to join, facilitate, inform or lead discussion on any of the above or related topics, please get in touch by e-mailing eleanor(a)bigblether.org.uk (replacing (a) with @). The programme will evolve during the weekend though; you can take the risk of just coming along…

Beds
A few indoor beds are also available at an extra £5 for each night. There is space for wheel-chair users too, but please get in touch well in advance to book it or even just express interest. book(a)bigblether.org.uk (replacing (a) with @).

Musical Instruments
Please bring your drums, whistles, noisemakers (and band!). We’re hoping for an impromptu céilidh and drumming round the fire. (noise will be restricted after 10 on Fri and after 12 on Saturday, though there will be an indoor space for gentler noise making into the wee hours).

Travelling there
Click here

Forum
Our webspace is everyone's forum to suggest what we’d like to see and/or what we can offer. It can be updated and amended by all at: www.bigblether.org.uk/bbwiki (sorry you need to cut'n'paste it into your browser otherwise it gets trashed by bots).

Bring
A torch; musical instruments; warm clothes; tent; boots; towel for sauna; indoor shoes; sleeping bag; openness to shares ideas, information and enthusiasm for change…

Don’t bring: dogs
ABSOLUTELY NO DOGS – Laurieston Hall is a working farm and a large but personal home. There are kennels nearby (01644 450202) or a pretty campsite in Castle Douglas that is dog friendly (01556 502949, £10.20pn, no large veh. move’s after 9.30pm!).

Looking forward to seeing you all at the blether, The BB5 Organising Group

Flyer [2 sides] with this info:
PDF: [228kb]
JPEG: [side 1: 167kb] [side 2: 252kb]
PNG: [side 1: 224kb] [side 2: 264kb]
please copy

Don't forget the travel page...

Contact with @ for (a) : info(a)bigblether.org.uk

for the wiki go to www.bigblether.org.uk/bbwiki

To see the website for the fourth BB click here