Welcome to HacktionLab

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The aim of HacktionLab is to have a convergence where people interested in and/or working in the areas of alternative media, renewable energy, free software advocacy, or any form of activism that utilises technology can come together to swap ideas and skills, take part in shared workshops, give masterclasses, give talks, show videos, socialise and strengthen the UK network of people able to provide alternative media coverage and provide technical support to national gatherings, such as Climate Camp and No Borders, as well as increased support at a regional and local level. We are expecting that a maximum of 30 people will attend.

Thought I'd write you a line about a little proposal that I've been talking to Lloyd and Mick about, and also that comes from a conversation I had with Gary at November's CC convergence in Oxford.

The idea for the gathering has come from several years experience by activists working for organisations such as Indymedia as well as specific experience gained from involvement in the camps for climate action in Selby (2006) and Heathrow (2007):

• Stirling Indymedia - Field IMC at Horizon Ecovillage during G8 protests
• Indymedia: HOWTO Mount a Media Centre
• Bristol Wireless LTSP suite
• Edinburgh Media Centre Tech during G8 protests

Audience

The convergence is primary aimed at folk who have experience(s) to share will others in order to encourage the amount of shared knowledge in the UK-wide media, free software and alternative technology activist network, and it's therefore seen that it will be most suitable for media activists, free software advocates, geeks and hackers (of the white hat variety); however, anyone else that is interested in attending is most welcome.

Organisations involved

This convergence is being proposed and attended by Bristol Wireless, Indymedia UK, Schnews and Clearer Channel.

Date

Evening Friday 13th June 2008 to afternoon Sunday 15th June 2008.

Would recommend that crew arrive Friday morning (or Thursday evening) to set-up some of the infrastructure, and anyone who wishes should be encouraged to be involved in this, as the set-up forms part of the skills sharing.

Schedule

Friday 13th

• Forward crew arrive in the morning to set up mess tent and other core infrastructure
• Majority arrive in afternoon, set-up camp
• Supper + entertainment

Saturday 14th

• Breakfast
• Morning workshops
• Lunch
• Afternoon workshops
• Dinner
• Party

Sunday 15th

• Breakfast
• Workshops
• Lunch
• What next / parting of company
• Tat-down team, tat-down!

Location

We have decided upon Highbury Farm located in the Lower Wye Valley on a hill above the village of Redbrook. Highbury Farm is actually located in Gloucestershire, although it should be in Gwent:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116091757328127903486.00044a77c88e510b9560c&t=h&z=17

The HacktionLab will take place at two locations on Highbury Farm:

• The barn: proposal is to do the workshops in this space as it has adequate weather protection, mains power and is near enough to the farmhouse to be able to run Ethernet from the farm's ADSL connection.
• The field: here we'll put up a mess tent and this is where everyone will camp, has lovely view over Redbrook and up the Wye Valley. There is vehicle access into this field via a reasonably firm track.

Workshops

The workshops should be simply facilitated discussions and hands-on skills-sharing activities based around a technology or a way of doing something. The aim is to enable a free exchange of ideas based around a theme, and not too much time should be spend in their planning.

Here is a working list of topics for workshops, please feel free to add to it or propose yourself and a workshop you'd like to facilitate:

Running a rural IMC (Field IMC)

• skillsharing around doing rural IMC's -
• mobile internet connection
• 12 volt power issues
• recycling computers / building a mobile suite

Technology

• Linux and other free software (viable alternatives for alternative media, Kino, Cinelerra, iTheora, GIMP, OpenOffice)
• basic computer networking
• basic wireless technology
• satellite, 3G and mobile comms technology
• renewable energy and how it works (AC and DC theory)
• security, privacy and encryption techniques
• using the web for collaboration - wikis, drupals, plone, etc.

Video-tech

• the next steps for imc video on a UK level
• tactical collaboration
• tech skill share on encoding, hosting, podcasting and websites for video
• streaming

There is a source for workshops available for ideas http://clearerchannel.org/guides/s_index.html

Kids

Kids are most welcome, however we will not be arranging any crêche facilities.

Entertainment

Evening events could include a couple of bands, some open mic, some poetry, and some decent organic cyder around a fire of course ;)

Logistics

Facilities

There is both main electricity and Internet connectivity at the farm. We will also bring 3G and satellite alternatives to demonstrate and discuss the technology. It would be great to have some renewables for the camping field for the evening. In the camping field there will be a fire pit, pissoirs and a shit pit.

Equipment

• LTSP suite (from Bristol Wireless)
• Video projector + screen (or white sheet)
• Mess tent
• Trestle tables (for LTSP suite / kitchen)
• Kitchen equipment

Crew/Rôles

• Catering crew
• Mess tent set-up
• LTSP suite set-up
• Networking, projector and power set-up
• Shit pit and pissoirs
• Fire crew

Immediate requirement is for more folks to get involved, this is a workshop event, so all those who come should also expect to be involved in making the whole thing happen, so although we will plan for the equipment to bring, it will be an organic affair (not in the sense of vegetables).

Please encourage other people to get involved by asking them that they join the mailing list at http://lists.psand.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/hacktionlab

Transport and site access

Access to Highbury farm by vehicle is somewhat difficult as it is situated up a steep hill in the valley. Most motor vehicles should ideally be left at the bottom of the hill rather than be taken up the track. For small vehicles, carrying the minimum of passengers would help. There is a decent footpath up from the village to the farm, so leaving vehicle at bottom and walking is a good option.

We'll need to get a van or two up to site to bring equipment and food.

The farm have recommended that if anyone wishes to bring a caravan, that they tow it up using a tractor, as this will be easier than trying to tow a vehicle towing a caravan that's got stuck!

Trains to Chepstow, there is then a bus service from Chepstow to Redbrook village, but this ceases at about 6PM. We will therefore need to organise a runner to collect people from Chepstow train station on Friday evening, should there be a need to do so.

From Bristol the farm is about 30 miles, over the old Severn Bridge (M48) and then taking the A466 past Chepstow and about 13 miles up the Wye Valley. The bridge costs something like 5 pounds 30 pence for cars and 10.50 for vans.

Costs

The cost will be 4 pounds per person for the camping for the weekend. We also have to add costs for food on top of this. Highbury Farm also expressed that any additional contribution would be much appreciated. The costs for organising this event will be:

• camping (4 quid per person)
• food
• transport of equipment (and tolls for Severn Bridge)
• any administrative costs

Per person we will aim that the convergence will require around a fifteen pound contribution, with an upper limit of twenty. Everyone will be responsible for organising their own transport to the location, except for being collected from Chepstow train station.