12.05.07. I’ll start with the cliché: the last month feels like a lifetime. One month ago today was the official opening of the No Borders Camp [that took place in Calexico/Mexicali - in the militarized space commonly referred to as the US/Mexico border]. The camp, though, as an idea, a project and a process began somewhere in the realm of 2 years ago.

The No Borders Camp, as defined by those involved, has always been about the process. High priority goals were to build relationships and, indeed, a network or networks of radical folks opposed to borders; folks fighting against this border and for freedom of movement; for an end to detention and deportation, for a world free of racism and xenophobia and so much more. The process of this project and any future work comes from an anarchist, anti-authoritarian base that honors collectivity. I hope that like the groups and individuals I work with locally, all those involved seek accountability for their words and actions. If we can be responsible to ourselves, our communities and our movements, we actually may have something formidable to offer... read on

In this spirit, I feel that many of us, certainly myself, are taking time to write and think and critique. We are doing this alone, in small groups and in debrief meetings. The potential reflections and critiques from these dialogues are invaluable. Clearly, there are those who will offer up thoughts outside of community processes - that has happened throughout the project. The question to me really is: are we ready to be responsible? Am I ready to be accountable? I think our movements will not survive otherwise. Before, during and after the camp, this has always obviously been in reference to organizers and participants of all kinds. Now that the camp has happened, I think this also, specifically should apply to anyone engaging publicly with the project, most notably in writing.

As the time goes by following this project, I would like to begin to put out writings in reflection and critique. I know that many others will do the same. In addition, as I hear the snippets of conversation and catch occasional emails, what is most exciting to me is that so many others like myself do want to offer up these writings out of such a collective process.

In the time leading up to camp, including this day one month ago, I talked with others involved about how we could come out on the other side open to healthy dialogue and accountability. I ask those of you out there to not hesitate to offer up thoughts and critiques as well as be patient as many of us take the necessary time to process and receive feedback before offering up to the world our thoughts. The collectives and communities we engage with have the potential to be stronger if we do this together. Pragmatically, this does not mean every writing is a group effort but I commit to writings offered up to my collective, to my community with the request for their consent in sharing with the rest of you our experience. Not because I need permission but because those relationships are so deserving of respect and because those relationships are what are truly valuable in this process.

In the end, the mistakes we’ve made, we can choose to learn from. I advocate that we strengthen ourselves by learning from them together. I look forward to what comes from the many minds spending time thinking and sharing about this project. My writings will find there way out there and will also live on a blog set up for them at: noborderscamp.org/en/owl
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“It is very easy to sit on the internet, make a list, contact people and make critiques. But, beyond this, we need to do much fieldwork, with our hands, in mutual support with one another, reflecting, meditating and with hours of patience for creating more solid relationships.” - fellow camp participant in his initial camp reflection