Green action is a student-run society based at Leeds University. We link together a number of green-related operations, such as a delicious food co-op, an alternative library and a shared allotment in the park.
We welcome anyone to come along and join the fun, so if you are concerned about the state of the planet and want to get involved come and see us at either the societies fair or in the food co-op!
Joining the group mailing list
To join our riseup mailing list just send a blank email to:
greenaction-subscribe
lists [dot] riseup [dot] net (greenaction-subscribe at lists riseup net)
and if your getting sick of all those emails you can always unsubscribe by sending a blank email to:
greenaction-subscribelists [dot] riseup [dot] net (greenaction-unsubscribe at lists riseup net)
What is Green Action?
We are a society that takes practical action on environmental, social and political issues. We run various activities and campaigns which everyone is welcome to get involved in, and we try to encourage anyone with ideas to put them into action. We are non-hierarchical, everyone is an equal member with an equal voice, so don't expect us to tell you what to do, do it yourself! If you have a decent idea that you think might work then let people know and together we can try and put it into action. See Who is Green Action? for our constitution and ethos. Green Action is an associate member of Radical Routes.
What does green action do?
Green Action History and Overview
Green Action was set up in the early 1990's to bridge the gap between two other environmental societies: People and Planet, which had a focus on political campaigning and Earth First which focused on campaigning through direct action. Green Action's main focus is local practical action to protect the environment. The Earth First group at the University now no longer exists and so Green Action now also does as much campaigning as possible. In the past green action has managed several shared allotments, run the food coop and fun Hyde Park Wombles, a Recycling scheme that operated before there were Green Bins in the area. The Food Coop has now been running for about 12 years in the small room opposite the old bar, under the stairs. More detailed info on the food coop and allotment below.
In recent years Green Actions main campaigning work has been through our members getting involved with other campaigns around the country such as the Camp for Climate Action and No to Biofuels. In the early 2000's Green Action directly ran a campaign itself to stop peat extraction from Hatfield Moor, several actions happened and as a result peat extraction was halted and the valuable habitat of the Moor was saved. Last year Green Action created an Alternative Careers Guide that was given out to undergraduates attending the Careers Fairs (this year's is 13th n 14th Oct..), and for Buy Nothing Day (this year's is 29th Nov..) they held a Freeshop and sang subverstised Christmas carols in Leeds city centre.
The way Green Action makes decisions: Green Action is run non-hierarchically using consensus decision making. This means that everyone is equally in charge and when we make decisions everyone gets equal say in what we decide to do. We have several coordinators, details below, who keep things organised and make sure that everything that needs doing gets done. Contact the relevant coordinator to get involved in that area. If you have an idea for a new project or campaign then come along to the next meeting to suggest it and make it happen!
We briefly covered hand signals used in the consensus decision making process. We use these so everyone can easily speak in meetings and people don’t talk over each other. Raise your hand to make a point and wiggle both hands if you agree with a suggestion. For more details check out: http://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/free/consens
We are associate members of Radical Routes which is a secondary co-op which aims to promote the formation of more radical co-ops in the UK.
Getting Involved
Coordinators Introduction: if you have a question about something or want to get involved then contact the relevant coordinator. We have different people who help organise different Roles in Green Action but we are always happy for more help and ideas.