Re: like WCN? like Venice? (let's go network...)

It's a curious time, indeed, many things are shifting and many people
are suffering economically. Ironically I'm told people are more likely
to be active during down times, perhaps understanding the strong links
between cars and oil and suburbs, and the present conditions -- and
how much worse it can get -- would motivate people. For my "two cents"
I think we need clear campaigns with clear goals people can get
behind, focused on big results, but I don't know how to get us there.
A meeting is a good start.

Speaking of the economy, Joel: Good point about the cost of Venice
potentially being a barrier.  I've been assuming that the Ecotopia
Biketour would find a free sleeping place that we could share as well.
This usually means a huge room where sleeping bags are welcome. At
least the conference is very inexpensive as conferences go, and is on
a sliding scale.

I've been assuming all along that it would work out that at least some
of us will be there, but yes to firming up plans and inspiring more
people to join. For me it's not hard, as I'm living a nice train ride
away in Bologna and also helping with Biketour.  I've asked BT
organizers if we have a sleeping place for Venice yet that can be used
for the WCN revival effort as well, and will report back.

Haven't replied to certain other posts including Simon's request I
summarise discussions thus far due to a variety of circumstances,
apologies.

Jason




On Wed, May 23, 2012 at 3:37 PM, Simon Field <[email protected]> wrote=
:
> Hi all.
>
> Thanks to Joel for his e-mail. I share his frustration at the lack of
> progress towards carfree. There appears to be little in the way of genera=
l
> interest in the subject, as exemplified by declining activity on this
> mailing list for the last few years. We have also noticed that the number=
 of
> contributions to WCN's World Carfree Day wiki has fallen every year, with
> just a handful of entries last year. This means WCN cannot answer media
> enquiries on the subject, which in turn means less positive media coverag=
e
> of carfree issues.... In addition, we received no proposals to host the 1=
1th
> Towards Carfree Cities Conference.
>
> Interest in particular causes or activities is cyclical: right now carfre=
e
> is at a low ebb, but I'm hopeful new interest can be generated as we
> approach World Carfree Network's ten year anniversary. As Joel says, carf=
ree
> has never been more relevant as a solution to congestion, climate change,
> physical health, city liveability and the rest of it.
>
> I think a physical meeting in Europe is a good idea - there are few place=
s
> better for inspiration than Venice. I have registered to attend the Degro=
wth
> conference in September, and am planning to join the Degrowth walk from
> Milan to Venice (see the Degrowth conference website). This walk and the
> parallel bike tour (tours?) could be good opportunities to spread the wor=
d
> about carfree and attract people to a 'Future of Carfree' meeting in
> parallel with or after the Degrowth conference. We are open to ideas for
> actions.
>
> WCN's internal mailing list has recently hosted a discussion about
> restructuring and relaunching, but so far there have been no concrete,
> workable plans with the names of people committed to help implement them.
> Your ideas would be welcome on this list, or off-list to me if you prefer=
.
>
> In the meantime we have a team of three core volunteers to maintain the
> website, prepare the bulletin and coordinate Carbusters Online.
>
> I sincerely hope the carfree idea doesn't fade away. I think there are
> people out there who truly believe in it - over to you to make yourselves
> and your ideas known...
>
> Also looking forward to a response or two,
>
> Simon.
>
> ________________________________
> From: J.H. Crawford <[email protected]>
> To: carfree_network-/[email protected]
> Sent: Wednesday, 16 May 2012, 19:26
> Subject: Re: [carfree_network] like WCN? like Venice? (let's go network..=
.)
>
>
> Responding to Justin's recent post:
>
> Hi All,
>
> So far there has seemed to be little interest in a network meeting in
> Venice. I'm not sure why, but I have one thought: Venice is expensive. Is
> that holding people back? Should we look for a low-cost alternative, perh=
aps
> near Venice, so that those attending the Degrowth conference can easily
> attend the WCN meeting?
>
> I am very discouraged these days. Nothing seems to be going in the right
> direction, and interest in carfree cities actually appears to be declinin=
g
> despite the improvements they offer for so many of the problems from whic=
h
> we suffer. I really don't have any idea any more what we should be doing.=
 I
> would like to gather with some carfree supporters soon, somewhere. We nee=
d
> to discuss what to do next.
>
> Best,
>
> Joel
>
>
>>Here is another attempt to insert some life into this list (as well as
>> network). This September 19-23 there is going to be a conference in Veni=
ce,
>> Italy on Degrowth. This is an important movement that has gained tractio=
n in
>> the past few years (some of you may have read about Francois Schneider a=
nd
>> his 14 month walk with donkey in France, in one issue of Carbusters). yo=
u
>> can learn more about the conference at http://www.venezia2012.it/?lang=
=3Den.
>> (can also register there).
>
>>
>>Venice is also the glorious example, par excellence, of a carfree city an=
d
>> beautiful carfree spaces, that all of us in the network like to gush abo=
ut.
>> Well, there has been some talk among a few of us, of getting carfree peo=
ple
>> to attend the conference, and using the opportunity to spend a little ti=
me
>> (ideally after the main conference) of planning for future ways that WCN=
 can
>> play a role in shaping sustainable mobility and moving forward the carfr=
ee
>> concept, in light of the closing of the Prague office closed last year.
>>
>>Take this then as a call to see who is interested and would like to atten=
d,
>> or help plan a mini-event and get-together. It will be great to see some=
 old
>> carfree activists come together, but it can be equally super if some fre=
sh
>> faces show up. Anyone interested, please speak up! (either on-list or
>> off-list)
>>
>>Also in the planning is the ecotopia biketour, which will travel by bike
>> from Spain through France to Italy, ending up at the conference. Then th=
ere
>> is a group who want to walk a stretch to the conference, with a donkey
>> entourage, just like Francois all those years ago (Francois btw, will al=
so
>> be present, at least at the conf) . I've heard also about a regatta with
>> rowboats... So in a word, there is hope to do some action, such as a
>> critical mass ride, or something else that we could organize. I think it
>> could be great if an action could take place that would specifically bri=
ng
>> the carfree nature of Venice to light, support and promote that aspect o=
f
>> the city.
>>
>>So, here is the question, what are any of your action ideas for such an
>> occasion? I know that if Joel comes, he'll take a video or three. What e=
lse
>> could we do? perhaps use the occasion as a scene for a statement broadca=
st
>> worldwide? some media action? theatrical or otherwise? in Venice we woul=
dn't
>> so much protest AGAINST something as FOR it...
>>
>>if anyone wants to discuss this here, would be great, we still have a
>> little bit of time... also, if enough momentum develops, we can migrate =
to a
>> smaller discussion forum. As other groups such as biketour are planning
>> actions, we could coordinate something together. I have contact with the
>> conference organizers and am also looking for more contacts to local
>> institutions or groups. would be nice to hear from any italians on the
>> list..
>>
>>looking forward to a response or two!
>>
>>Justin
>
> -----=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 ###=A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 -----
> J.H. Crawford
> [email protected]
> http://www.carfree.com
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/carfreecities
> Video channels:
> http://vimeo.com/jhcrawford/videos
> http://www.youtube.com/user/CarfreeCities
>
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