Andy Ross was the first to set up a CRAG, in the West Midlands, followed by Vey Straker (Andy’s sister) set up Hereford CRAG. Independently, a small group (including Guy S, David and others) came together under COIN’s Climate Action Group meeting in Oxford, and later adopted Andy’s scheme. David B created this web site in September 2006 and still maintains and develops it. See About CRAGs and the CRAGs chronology for more information.
Although individual CRAGs are fully autonomous, and the CRAG “network” has no funding, constitution, or official press contacts, a small group of volunteers act as facilitators to coordinate local CRAGs through our website. These include:
- Incoming mail to our mailbox (inc. press enquiries) is handled by Andy Ross (mainly), David B and Shannon (for the US).
- Website maintenance & development is by David B (the main website) and John A (a separate footprinting system used by some CRAGgers). Please report any bugs you find or ideas you may have directly to them, or via the mailbox.
- Media: CRAGs have been nationally promoted, in a small and modest way, by Guy, Jessica, Andy and Catherine among others (see the links for examples). If you’d like to help, please contact one of them. Robin, Vey and John and probably many others have given presentations on CRAGs to various audiences.
- Moderation of posts on the website is carried out by Andy, John and David, in accordance with the Posting Rules developed by the community.
Craggers from different groups mostly interact via the fora, and this is primarily how cross-CRAG plans and events are organised. The network facilitators meet, email and talk on the phone on an ad hoc basis, sometimes via Skype conference calls. Craggers like to meet up in the real world when they can – for example, neighbouring CRAGs will get together to swap ideas, and we catch up with each other at non-CRAG conferences and events. On 5 November 2006 (the day after the UK National Climate march), about 10 CRAG members from different UK groups met in a pub in Central London to discuss a national CRAG strategy, although it was decided not to formally adopt a strategy at that time debate. More recently, Craggers came together at the London Freewheel Bike Ride on 23 September 2007 and the National Climate Change march on 8 December 2007 [see photos!]
If you have the time and skills to asssist with any of the network facilitator roles (or create some new ones), then please get in touch get in touch. We’re really happy to welcome new volunteers – there’s loads to be done, and it’s always interesting to work with like-minded people because we’re friendly people (!) and there’s a lot to be done: our current efforts are time-limited and are lagging the needs of local CRAGs.