from a local newspaper
... “With no police presence this year we’ve been able to focus much more on the climate change message.”
Campers spent today taking down the tents, litter picking and removing the contents of their compost toilets, which will now be given to farms.
Protestor Murray Smith said: “We’ll be cleaning up until we return the heath to the way we found it. Everyone in the camp is encouraged to help and leave it in pristine condition.”
Hannah Smith, 23, said: “I think it’s been a fantastic success. We’ve had a chance to build this movement into something very exciting.
“It shows what we need are normal people to realise we all need to take responsibility for climate change.” ...
..
Showing posts with label climate camp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label climate camp. Show all posts
September 04, 2009
September 02, 2009
NO PHILOSOPHY
Guardian-
...Small actions like the ones above may be inspirational to the participants, but they are of little use to the wider aim of garnering support and jolting politicians into action; showing politicians that the world is moving on and that they need to move with it.
For that you need to be ambitious, you need to plan and research meticulously; the result can be actions such as Greenpeace's climbing of the Kingsnorth chimney or Climate Camp's occupation at Heathrow, which genuinely created a buzz.
The next few months are crucial. It will be interesting to see whether Climate Camp's decision to invest in movement building will pay off...
err.. Yeah anyway whilst everyone was in town ripping the S off of SHELL I was up at the camp discussing Where Now? Very difficult because it was organised by people at the front who told everyone to discuss in groups for ten or five minutes and then went off on one themselves all the time yabbering between these stunted debates. This is consensus I am quite used to and it doesn't really bother me. I still reckon it is a good thing, we just have to spend longer invovled in each others lives than your average Capitalist.
They played a game where everyone walked around in circles shouting ideas at random which the group then answered which was quite fun. How can I surmise? People wanted Climate Camp to appeal to more people. They feel a bit middle class and honky-fied. Someone said they wanted less national meetings cos they are hard to get to and distract people from creating strong local groups. They want to engage with pre-existing community groups and residents associations.
I only arrived for the afternoon session, but in total this went on for about six hours. For the whole time one guy was standing alone with some stupid sign hassling people every so often with the facilitators trying to reason with him. Right at the end, when one chick got up and said there would be time for people to quickly publicise upcoming events to the group as a whole, another of them stood up and said she "Had to learn to say no" at these things, and then proceeded to use the time up waffling some more herself instead.
Its all quite funny really and, as I say its something I am quite used to. I like living surrealism. Will mainstream society one day embrace this non-hierarchical way of life? I think so. It is something which has been lost a long time ago which we are struggling to refind so although I felt a bit frustrated it didn't put me off any. I am only on the periphery of climate camp and if I can say anything useful I will.
Predictions? Well trying to shut down a Power Station will put the Police straight back into Kings North mode. Hassle people. Inconvenience them. Inconvenience them a lot. Provoke them. Try to discourage them from coming back. You can't just shut down Power Stations now can you? They'd look pretty silly if a bunch of people like this did shut a Power Station down eh.
But wait...
...Scotland Yard said tonight the model of policing used at Climate Camp, the week-long gathering of environmental activists that ends tomorrow, was a "really successful" approach that would be repeated at future demonstrations.
Chief Superintendant Helen Ball, a spokeswoman for policing at the campsite in Blackheath, south-east London, said neighbourhood-style tactics which included a "low-key" presence, limited surveillance of activists and almost no use of stop-and-search powers proved the Met had changed its approach since the G20 protests in April. The tactic is likely to be repeated at future demonstrations, she said, noting there had been just one arrest in seven days. "Where the opportunity arises to adopt a similar policing style in the future, we will do that, so if you are in Nottingham in October, buy some candles"...
I made up that last bit.
In the evening Martha Tilston played, which the folkies thought was a big deal. I realised as she played what was alienating me from all this. She has a great voice and beautiful songs but "Wonderful world" just isn't something I can relate to or sing along to with any conviction. Its not that I think it isn't, I just have no philosophy. This became apparent to me in a flash of inspiration in Tescos the other day. I would imagine a lot of people have shed their belief system in the queue at Tescos, this is how I shed mine.
I looked up and sitting down next to her mum was an Indian girl of perhaps fifteen with her face like the Elephant man. Sort of hall of Mirrors without the mirrors. Of course I looked away or tried not to look, or tried not to look uncomfortable. I walked on and saw a beautiful young blonde and felt my eyes and whole self attracted toward her. She opened her mouth and shattered the spell of her beauty with some proper Bermondsey attitude.
I just thought, human beings are just naturally as fickle as any other creature and I am one of them. No religion, no philosophy. I am not going to question anymore. If I can have fun, create or make the world a better place, its just because its a good idea. No belief, no goal. I think I am happy with that.
When I was hungover on Sunday some Spanish guy visiting my house was going on about Holotropic breathing. I have been giving it a go since and its made me incredibly angry very quickly to the extent that I am seriously considering finding some sort of guide rather than getting it all DIY style off of Youtube. Someone said I was "Holding on to Negativity" and had to "Breathe through it."
..
...Small actions like the ones above may be inspirational to the participants, but they are of little use to the wider aim of garnering support and jolting politicians into action; showing politicians that the world is moving on and that they need to move with it.
For that you need to be ambitious, you need to plan and research meticulously; the result can be actions such as Greenpeace's climbing of the Kingsnorth chimney or Climate Camp's occupation at Heathrow, which genuinely created a buzz.
The next few months are crucial. It will be interesting to see whether Climate Camp's decision to invest in movement building will pay off...
err.. Yeah anyway whilst everyone was in town ripping the S off of SHELL I was up at the camp discussing Where Now? Very difficult because it was organised by people at the front who told everyone to discuss in groups for ten or five minutes and then went off on one themselves all the time yabbering between these stunted debates. This is consensus I am quite used to and it doesn't really bother me. I still reckon it is a good thing, we just have to spend longer invovled in each others lives than your average Capitalist.
They played a game where everyone walked around in circles shouting ideas at random which the group then answered which was quite fun. How can I surmise? People wanted Climate Camp to appeal to more people. They feel a bit middle class and honky-fied. Someone said they wanted less national meetings cos they are hard to get to and distract people from creating strong local groups. They want to engage with pre-existing community groups and residents associations.
I only arrived for the afternoon session, but in total this went on for about six hours. For the whole time one guy was standing alone with some stupid sign hassling people every so often with the facilitators trying to reason with him. Right at the end, when one chick got up and said there would be time for people to quickly publicise upcoming events to the group as a whole, another of them stood up and said she "Had to learn to say no" at these things, and then proceeded to use the time up waffling some more herself instead.
Its all quite funny really and, as I say its something I am quite used to. I like living surrealism. Will mainstream society one day embrace this non-hierarchical way of life? I think so. It is something which has been lost a long time ago which we are struggling to refind so although I felt a bit frustrated it didn't put me off any. I am only on the periphery of climate camp and if I can say anything useful I will.
Predictions? Well trying to shut down a Power Station will put the Police straight back into Kings North mode. Hassle people. Inconvenience them. Inconvenience them a lot. Provoke them. Try to discourage them from coming back. You can't just shut down Power Stations now can you? They'd look pretty silly if a bunch of people like this did shut a Power Station down eh.
But wait...
...Scotland Yard said tonight the model of policing used at Climate Camp, the week-long gathering of environmental activists that ends tomorrow, was a "really successful" approach that would be repeated at future demonstrations.
Chief Superintendant Helen Ball, a spokeswoman for policing at the campsite in Blackheath, south-east London, said neighbourhood-style tactics which included a "low-key" presence, limited surveillance of activists and almost no use of stop-and-search powers proved the Met had changed its approach since the G20 protests in April. The tactic is likely to be repeated at future demonstrations, she said, noting there had been just one arrest in seven days. "Where the opportunity arises to adopt a similar policing style in the future, we will do that, so if you are in Nottingham in October, buy some candles"...
I made up that last bit.
In the evening Martha Tilston played, which the folkies thought was a big deal. I realised as she played what was alienating me from all this. She has a great voice and beautiful songs but "Wonderful world" just isn't something I can relate to or sing along to with any conviction. Its not that I think it isn't, I just have no philosophy. This became apparent to me in a flash of inspiration in Tescos the other day. I would imagine a lot of people have shed their belief system in the queue at Tescos, this is how I shed mine.
I looked up and sitting down next to her mum was an Indian girl of perhaps fifteen with her face like the Elephant man. Sort of hall of Mirrors without the mirrors. Of course I looked away or tried not to look, or tried not to look uncomfortable. I walked on and saw a beautiful young blonde and felt my eyes and whole self attracted toward her. She opened her mouth and shattered the spell of her beauty with some proper Bermondsey attitude.
I just thought, human beings are just naturally as fickle as any other creature and I am one of them. No religion, no philosophy. I am not going to question anymore. If I can have fun, create or make the world a better place, its just because its a good idea. No belief, no goal. I think I am happy with that.
When I was hungover on Sunday some Spanish guy visiting my house was going on about Holotropic breathing. I have been giving it a go since and its made me incredibly angry very quickly to the extent that I am seriously considering finding some sort of guide rather than getting it all DIY style off of Youtube. Someone said I was "Holding on to Negativity" and had to "Breathe through it."
..
September 01, 2009
LIME
Some more stuff about Climate camp
Prosperity without growth, in a tent on Blackheath
....the Climate Camp suffers from a preoccupation with measuring its achievements in terms of the protests it has undertaken rather than a series of achievable goals that those outside the camp movement can easily identify with...
...The police have vanished, gone to confiscate some drugs at the Notting Hill carnival or practise their handbrake turns on the M25. And the campers admit that, actually, it feels a bit odd without them. After all, much though they may deny this, the police have actually been incredibly useful to Climate Camp – uniting the campers in the face of the common enemy, and keeping them in the headlines in the months between camps...
...Without the “common enemy” of the police, the protesters have nothing to motivate them. The interfering government chooses to ignore the campers, and suddenly the anarchists have nothing to do - there is no visible “man” to stick two fingers up at, so they are only left to pick their noses...
...We left the gates of Barclays covered in messages written on coloured paper...
...Then we decided to march around the city, and try to find some bankers in the local gastropubs having a Friday night drink...a man in a suit came up next to me and took hold of the end of it. At first I thought he was a camper dressed up as a banker for the event, but soon realised he was a genuine city worker, who had drunkenly joined us. He didn’t really know what was going on, and swung between asking us what it was all about, and shouting that he loved us all. As we approached the main access road to Canary wharf, he took the megaphone and danced around in front of the banner (and about 10 big cameras), and addressed the masses.
Our banker left us before we sat down and blocked the road for a while, (letting through the buses). Then back home to the camp, clearing out the free limes being given out by people advertising something on the way home...
Prosperity without growth, in a tent on Blackheath
....the Climate Camp suffers from a preoccupation with measuring its achievements in terms of the protests it has undertaken rather than a series of achievable goals that those outside the camp movement can easily identify with...
...The police have vanished, gone to confiscate some drugs at the Notting Hill carnival or practise their handbrake turns on the M25. And the campers admit that, actually, it feels a bit odd without them. After all, much though they may deny this, the police have actually been incredibly useful to Climate Camp – uniting the campers in the face of the common enemy, and keeping them in the headlines in the months between camps...
...Without the “common enemy” of the police, the protesters have nothing to motivate them. The interfering government chooses to ignore the campers, and suddenly the anarchists have nothing to do - there is no visible “man” to stick two fingers up at, so they are only left to pick their noses...
...We left the gates of Barclays covered in messages written on coloured paper...
...Then we decided to march around the city, and try to find some bankers in the local gastropubs having a Friday night drink...a man in a suit came up next to me and took hold of the end of it. At first I thought he was a camper dressed up as a banker for the event, but soon realised he was a genuine city worker, who had drunkenly joined us. He didn’t really know what was going on, and swung between asking us what it was all about, and shouting that he loved us all. As we approached the main access road to Canary wharf, he took the megaphone and danced around in front of the banner (and about 10 big cameras), and addressed the masses.
Our banker left us before we sat down and blocked the road for a while, (letting through the buses). Then back home to the camp, clearing out the free limes being given out by people advertising something on the way home...
August 31, 2009
INVASION FORCE
...Detailed plans are being drawn up for a mass invasion of Britain‘s third most polluting power station.
The unfolding plot follows an unprecedented vote by thousands of climate activists to determine the target of their next mass direct action, with e.on’s Ratcliffe plant in Nottinghamshire named the clear winner in an announcement made at the Climate Camp last night (Sunday).
The Camp - currently pitched on Blackheath in London - held the online poll over recent weeks. More than 2000 activists voted, with Ratcliffe establishing a clear margin of victory over Drax in Yorkshire. Groups are now forming to plot the shutdown of the station by thousands of people who will descend on the e.on plant by land, water and air.
The invasion will take place on October 17-18, but logistical preparations are already under way at the Blackheath Camp. Teams are investigating Google Earth maps and poring over detailed intelligence on how best to enter the power plant and safely shut it down. Earlier this year, 114 people were arrested for conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass at the power station. No charges have been brought in connection with incident...
from The Guardian-
...A spokesman, Peter McDonnell, said that Climate Camp wanted to shed its image of being made up of "dangerous radicals and middle-class kids" and move into the mainstream.
But the novel tactics reveal a deeper dilemma within the broader environment movement. Climate Camp and the other groups planning the October action, such as anti-aviation group Plane Stupid, know that media coverage, focusing on the aggressive policing of protests such as the G20 in London on 1 April, has earned positive publicity and public sympathy. But organisers are keen to put the focus back on climate change.
They are also aware that some people will be scared off from joining protests with an intimidating atmosphere. Yet it is much harder to get publicity without dramatic direct action... Stephen Tindale, former director of Greenpeace and founder of consultancy Climate Answers, said: "There's still a role for direct action, but it's a bit of a catch-22."
... "We are trying to broaden the movement out to Marks & Spencer clothes-wearing people," said McDonnell.
From Reuters-
An E.ON spokesman said the firm would work with local police to ensure the plant remained safe and in operation.
"We are supportive of peaceful protest but it is unacceptable to us for people to attempt to break into our power stations to shut them down," he said.
"It is not safe for people to go into power stations when they don't know what they are doing."
..
The unfolding plot follows an unprecedented vote by thousands of climate activists to determine the target of their next mass direct action, with e.on’s Ratcliffe plant in Nottinghamshire named the clear winner in an announcement made at the Climate Camp last night (Sunday).
The Camp - currently pitched on Blackheath in London - held the online poll over recent weeks. More than 2000 activists voted, with Ratcliffe establishing a clear margin of victory over Drax in Yorkshire. Groups are now forming to plot the shutdown of the station by thousands of people who will descend on the e.on plant by land, water and air.
The invasion will take place on October 17-18, but logistical preparations are already under way at the Blackheath Camp. Teams are investigating Google Earth maps and poring over detailed intelligence on how best to enter the power plant and safely shut it down. Earlier this year, 114 people were arrested for conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass at the power station. No charges have been brought in connection with incident...
from The Guardian-
...A spokesman, Peter McDonnell, said that Climate Camp wanted to shed its image of being made up of "dangerous radicals and middle-class kids" and move into the mainstream.
But the novel tactics reveal a deeper dilemma within the broader environment movement. Climate Camp and the other groups planning the October action, such as anti-aviation group Plane Stupid, know that media coverage, focusing on the aggressive policing of protests such as the G20 in London on 1 April, has earned positive publicity and public sympathy. But organisers are keen to put the focus back on climate change.
They are also aware that some people will be scared off from joining protests with an intimidating atmosphere. Yet it is much harder to get publicity without dramatic direct action... Stephen Tindale, former director of Greenpeace and founder of consultancy Climate Answers, said: "There's still a role for direct action, but it's a bit of a catch-22."
... "We are trying to broaden the movement out to Marks & Spencer clothes-wearing people," said McDonnell.
From Reuters-
An E.ON spokesman said the firm would work with local police to ensure the plant remained safe and in operation.
"We are supportive of peaceful protest but it is unacceptable to us for people to attempt to break into our power stations to shut them down," he said.
"It is not safe for people to go into power stations when they don't know what they are doing."
..
FIVE
I didn't go up today, was jamming in Hackney, but yesterday I went to a meeting run by the legal observers. There is a lot online about legal observers being hassled at Kings North, but apparently they have had a meeting with the cops and are recieving some sort of status recognition though it remains to be seen what will happen when this lot next take action of course.
They are advising everyone not to give their details to the Police as a policy and are all wearing T shirts with this message on them. There was some fainlty alarming stuff about data bases and Police questions. Its all a bit late for that for me as all the FIT posse know who I am. As I have said before I don't really care. I can totally justify what I am doing and I am of such disposition that if I started down the path of worrying about information, databases and "the state" I would drive myself more nuts than I am already. Again this was another meeting preparing fresh new people to become thorns in the side of the worst extremists of Capitalism by all non violent means necessary, including the law.
For a festival of between six hundred and a thousand people, maybe more at any one time there is nothing quite like it. Logistically the camp is split up into groups who are expected to, and intend to be responsible for various workings of the whole. I live close by so I can come and go but I am beginning to see how the intensity of things on site could become a bit cultish if you were camping up there, especially for people from outside London this sort of meet up must mean a hell of a lot. Me? I ain't joining any cult anytime soon. In a cliquey place like this city I am sure it is much easier if you fit into a group. I've had a foot in all sorts of camps over my time in London but never felt truly part of any of them. For a while now I have retreated into music. When and if Atilla is let out of jail there is a possibility I might make one film, apart from that I can't really see my focus changing.
comment by
John Q. Publican on Liberal Conspiracy-
...The job for this generation is to consolidate (what you describe as “becoming main-stream”): to get people to accept that they’re not going away, and that they know what they’re doing. One way you do that is photos of your people being butchered on the evening news while holding their hands up and chanting “This is not a riot”. It worked for Gandhi. It worked for CC.
The movement learned a lot from the crushing, and subsequent media treatment, of the Gleneagles protest. They learned that the only way to win that fight is through letting the forces of reaction show their colours and getting it on video-tape. They’ve implemented that knowledge, honed it across several violent assaults by police in the last 8 years, and on Bishopsgate the government handed them the chance they needed.
So now the task is to build on that. They’re at the table with the Met, finally, after 5 years of trying to get a useful response. They’ll be at the table with the GLA fairly soon, given how many members are interested. Ask me again in 11 years...
..
They are advising everyone not to give their details to the Police as a policy and are all wearing T shirts with this message on them. There was some fainlty alarming stuff about data bases and Police questions. Its all a bit late for that for me as all the FIT posse know who I am. As I have said before I don't really care. I can totally justify what I am doing and I am of such disposition that if I started down the path of worrying about information, databases and "the state" I would drive myself more nuts than I am already. Again this was another meeting preparing fresh new people to become thorns in the side of the worst extremists of Capitalism by all non violent means necessary, including the law.
For a festival of between six hundred and a thousand people, maybe more at any one time there is nothing quite like it. Logistically the camp is split up into groups who are expected to, and intend to be responsible for various workings of the whole. I live close by so I can come and go but I am beginning to see how the intensity of things on site could become a bit cultish if you were camping up there, especially for people from outside London this sort of meet up must mean a hell of a lot. Me? I ain't joining any cult anytime soon. In a cliquey place like this city I am sure it is much easier if you fit into a group. I've had a foot in all sorts of camps over my time in London but never felt truly part of any of them. For a while now I have retreated into music. When and if Atilla is let out of jail there is a possibility I might make one film, apart from that I can't really see my focus changing.
comment by
John Q. Publican on Liberal Conspiracy-
...The job for this generation is to consolidate (what you describe as “becoming main-stream”): to get people to accept that they’re not going away, and that they know what they’re doing. One way you do that is photos of your people being butchered on the evening news while holding their hands up and chanting “This is not a riot”. It worked for Gandhi. It worked for CC.
The movement learned a lot from the crushing, and subsequent media treatment, of the Gleneagles protest. They learned that the only way to win that fight is through letting the forces of reaction show their colours and getting it on video-tape. They’ve implemented that knowledge, honed it across several violent assaults by police in the last 8 years, and on Bishopsgate the government handed them the chance they needed.
So now the task is to build on that. They’re at the table with the Met, finally, after 5 years of trying to get a useful response. They’ll be at the table with the GLA fairly soon, given how many members are interested. Ask me again in 11 years...
..
August 30, 2009
DAY FOUR
The real point of Climate camp- Liberal Conspiracy
My Visit to Climate Camp- Happy Marx
Day 4- Random Blowe
Dawn of the (Almost) Living Vegans
I think I actually got the hang of Climate camp a bit better yesterday.
I turned up quite early with no plan of action and drifted into a talk called "Composting the Capitalist State". Maybe it was a bit early for me but this came across as the same confused dreaming of a better future I have been hearing from people at these things for years. Although it sounds like it this isn't really a critisism. I am confused too. I think it is hard to visualise a better society or concrete steps how to achieve one, and Climate camp is going to attract such dreamers. Anyway, A World to Win came across as really lovely people. They say they have a plan, look at their website and judge for yourself.
After watching a "Mass action game" where groups of people were learning to lock themselves together, jump fences and build "body blockages" of all descriptions I stumbled on to find myself at an "Action Speed dating" event.
Last time I was actively invovled in mass action? Reclaim the Streets sixteen years ago. How old are you? Some of these teenagers were imagining some mythologised Reclaim the Streets I tried to dispel a bit. Yes. Everyone blocked a main road took drugs and had a huge party because they could. Trafalgar Square, the M40, yes. It looked amazing but what was it about? What did it achieve or point to? We can take over a street, take drugs and have a huge party. Great.
I am going to do what? Tomorrow? Where? Its Sunday. Noone will even be at those offices. Yeah. I have some contacts in the media. They won't come. Try any day other than Sunday. They can't do it. Its got to be Sunday. Got to go back up North, can't really get arrested, got to go to work on Monday. Discussions about the artistry of building oil slicks with bin liners gaffa taped to the pavement.
"But aren't bin liners a product of the oil industry?"
"Oh. Shit."
If I am going to glue my bell end to something its going to take more than ten minutes planning with a group of random strangers. Unless they give me some K or something then, possibly. Coming round with a policeman in rubber gloves pouring thinners on my dick might just be the thing to put me off K for good. I have no idea yet if this conspiracy hatched anything but it made me miss dinner and a couple of us dropped down the hill into Lewisham to my favourite Italian deli for a sandwich and a beer.
In the afternoon I attended a debate I was looking forward to all day with at least a hundred others, which considering it was unamplified went really well. Called "Green Authoritarianism" I was hoping that we were all going to see who would make the best "Green Hitler" from our ranks and having been elected once, forever bow to their every despotic whim and propel them to national and global domination. It wasn't quite like that, but I thought The Anarchist Federation presented really well. The debate which followed left me with a realistic picture of the state of the collective climate camp mind as people argued using the state to make change (taxation) vs rejecting the state.
As well as people driving past the fence shouting, (I saw "I HAVE got a job" sprayed on a tent at the perimiter) I like to think there are just as many people going about their daily lives who wish the Climate Camp well, and hope that someone one day might come out with a sound idea for large scale change. Meanwhile Climate camp goes on, full of people plotting to lock themselves to shit, invade offices, glue their bell ends to the gates of Downing street etc, joyously recruiting others to do the same ever hopeful to raise awareness and to challenge the extremes of Capitalism.The press attention so far collected and proudly displayed on a straw bale near the entrance is I think unanimously positive.
Over the day I overheard many many people heatedly debating the Police change of tactics this year. Has Ian Tomlinsons death and the subsequent media backlash changed things? Is this just a fake charm offensive? I joined in a couple of these debates, but overall I don't think it really matters. These are all the people who feel they have to push. The Police will inevitably get in the way sometimes. They will find they are up against people wholeheartedly commited to what they are doing which must be a difficult thing to deal with and meanwhile the energy crisis will loom ever nearer.
I think realistically the venue change has a lot to do with it. People coming in their thousands from all over the country to try and shut down a power station is a really big deal which could potentially disrupt the lives of thousands. If people are doing this in a non violent manner what can "The State" do? Harrass them. Try to encourage them not to come back. Shutting down one of the main roads through the city with tents for a day will "raise awareness" and attract attention but it is not difficult to see the thinking of "The State". Do you leave these people overnight? Another day? Two nights? If they are not being violent but wont leave either how do you get rid of them?
Black Heath was really well chosen as a place to regroup, recruit and evangelise. To feed, water and provide toilets for so many people in London without permission and pack down to leave no trace is just a hell of an achievement. The entertainment in the evening was top class. The largest tent must have held six hundred or more gyrating people from all over the country dancing to live ska and great Balkan djs whilst outside people were singing round a fire all night.
..
My Visit to Climate Camp- Happy Marx
Day 4- Random Blowe
Dawn of the (Almost) Living Vegans
Guided Tour
Cinema
Lock ons
Night time
I think I actually got the hang of Climate camp a bit better yesterday.
I turned up quite early with no plan of action and drifted into a talk called "Composting the Capitalist State". Maybe it was a bit early for me but this came across as the same confused dreaming of a better future I have been hearing from people at these things for years. Although it sounds like it this isn't really a critisism. I am confused too. I think it is hard to visualise a better society or concrete steps how to achieve one, and Climate camp is going to attract such dreamers. Anyway, A World to Win came across as really lovely people. They say they have a plan, look at their website and judge for yourself.
After watching a "Mass action game" where groups of people were learning to lock themselves together, jump fences and build "body blockages" of all descriptions I stumbled on to find myself at an "Action Speed dating" event.
Last time I was actively invovled in mass action? Reclaim the Streets sixteen years ago. How old are you? Some of these teenagers were imagining some mythologised Reclaim the Streets I tried to dispel a bit. Yes. Everyone blocked a main road took drugs and had a huge party because they could. Trafalgar Square, the M40, yes. It looked amazing but what was it about? What did it achieve or point to? We can take over a street, take drugs and have a huge party. Great.
I am going to do what? Tomorrow? Where? Its Sunday. Noone will even be at those offices. Yeah. I have some contacts in the media. They won't come. Try any day other than Sunday. They can't do it. Its got to be Sunday. Got to go back up North, can't really get arrested, got to go to work on Monday. Discussions about the artistry of building oil slicks with bin liners gaffa taped to the pavement.
"But aren't bin liners a product of the oil industry?"
"Oh. Shit."
If I am going to glue my bell end to something its going to take more than ten minutes planning with a group of random strangers. Unless they give me some K or something then, possibly. Coming round with a policeman in rubber gloves pouring thinners on my dick might just be the thing to put me off K for good. I have no idea yet if this conspiracy hatched anything but it made me miss dinner and a couple of us dropped down the hill into Lewisham to my favourite Italian deli for a sandwich and a beer.
In the afternoon I attended a debate I was looking forward to all day with at least a hundred others, which considering it was unamplified went really well. Called "Green Authoritarianism" I was hoping that we were all going to see who would make the best "Green Hitler" from our ranks and having been elected once, forever bow to their every despotic whim and propel them to national and global domination. It wasn't quite like that, but I thought The Anarchist Federation presented really well. The debate which followed left me with a realistic picture of the state of the collective climate camp mind as people argued using the state to make change (taxation) vs rejecting the state.
As well as people driving past the fence shouting, (I saw "I HAVE got a job" sprayed on a tent at the perimiter) I like to think there are just as many people going about their daily lives who wish the Climate Camp well, and hope that someone one day might come out with a sound idea for large scale change. Meanwhile Climate camp goes on, full of people plotting to lock themselves to shit, invade offices, glue their bell ends to the gates of Downing street etc, joyously recruiting others to do the same ever hopeful to raise awareness and to challenge the extremes of Capitalism.The press attention so far collected and proudly displayed on a straw bale near the entrance is I think unanimously positive.
Over the day I overheard many many people heatedly debating the Police change of tactics this year. Has Ian Tomlinsons death and the subsequent media backlash changed things? Is this just a fake charm offensive? I joined in a couple of these debates, but overall I don't think it really matters. These are all the people who feel they have to push. The Police will inevitably get in the way sometimes. They will find they are up against people wholeheartedly commited to what they are doing which must be a difficult thing to deal with and meanwhile the energy crisis will loom ever nearer.
I think realistically the venue change has a lot to do with it. People coming in their thousands from all over the country to try and shut down a power station is a really big deal which could potentially disrupt the lives of thousands. If people are doing this in a non violent manner what can "The State" do? Harrass them. Try to encourage them not to come back. Shutting down one of the main roads through the city with tents for a day will "raise awareness" and attract attention but it is not difficult to see the thinking of "The State". Do you leave these people overnight? Another day? Two nights? If they are not being violent but wont leave either how do you get rid of them?
Black Heath was really well chosen as a place to regroup, recruit and evangelise. To feed, water and provide toilets for so many people in London without permission and pack down to leave no trace is just a hell of an achievement. The entertainment in the evening was top class. The largest tent must have held six hundred or more gyrating people from all over the country dancing to live ska and great Balkan djs whilst outside people were singing round a fire all night.
..
August 28, 2009
DAY THREE
Contrary to popular belief, Climate Camp is not about fighting the police – it's about fighting climate change. Politics.co.uk
Only went up for a few hours this evening with a mate and his ten year old. The kid said it was rubbish and there was nothing for him to do. They were flying a kite outside.
Outside the Chief Policewoman was sitting drinking tea at a table with about five of the organisers and another copper. A few people coming past were photographing this spectacle but I haven't seen a picture online yet. At a bit of a distance a FIT photographer stood alone. Once inside I saw one of the masks, his line of sight to the FIT photographer and those at the table cleverly blanked by a large sheet on the fence throw something over at the tea party, possibly liquid.
I got talking to some old anarchist mates who were there who I haven't seen for ages. One of them was telling me that it was a shame that "The movement has split".
I asked him what he meant.
He said he was talking about "The Anarchists and the stupid liberals".
He went on to explain his view, that the Anarchists had the right idea about class struggle being linked to environmentalism but that the environmentalists "Didn't see the whole picture".
"How are they going to show their face in Italy when the Italian Anarchists hear things are done like this in the UK?"
Another friend of mine who was a bit pissed explained.
I think they were a bit miffed at the "drink tea with policemen" policy.
Local Newspaper News Shopper-
Many residents living by the heath seemed relaxed about the protest, with some saying they would pay the site a visit.
Web designer Stuart Mitchell, 38, of Dartmouth Terrace, said: “It doesn’t bother me really and it’s for a good cause. Let them do it.
“They’ve been really quiet. The most noise at night was from the police helicopter buzzing overhead.”
Looking out over the city, the camp is on common land where, in 1381, preacher John Ball gave what was probably the country's first speech against class oppression as part of the Peasants’ Revolt.
Jim McManus, 60, of Dartmouth Terrace said: “The issues they stand for are very important and it’s good to see that political activism is alive and well.
“It’s common land and because of the history with the peasants’ revolt it’s an ideal spot for them.”
James Allan, 77, of The Orchard, said: “This household is quite relaxed on the whole subject.
“My partner thinks it’s very good for them to get some fresh air.”
But Lewisham Mayor Sir Steve Bullock drew parallels between the “stupidity” of the campaigners and football hooligans on his website.
He told News Shopper: “I don’t think that a camp like this, which was unannounced and uninvited in an area which is a beautiful part of London is the right way to do this.
“My concern is that it actually distracts from the practical job of getting up and doing something about climate change.”
..
Only went up for a few hours this evening with a mate and his ten year old. The kid said it was rubbish and there was nothing for him to do. They were flying a kite outside.
Outside the Chief Policewoman was sitting drinking tea at a table with about five of the organisers and another copper. A few people coming past were photographing this spectacle but I haven't seen a picture online yet. At a bit of a distance a FIT photographer stood alone. Once inside I saw one of the masks, his line of sight to the FIT photographer and those at the table cleverly blanked by a large sheet on the fence throw something over at the tea party, possibly liquid.
I got talking to some old anarchist mates who were there who I haven't seen for ages. One of them was telling me that it was a shame that "The movement has split".
I asked him what he meant.
He said he was talking about "The Anarchists and the stupid liberals".
He went on to explain his view, that the Anarchists had the right idea about class struggle being linked to environmentalism but that the environmentalists "Didn't see the whole picture".
"How are they going to show their face in Italy when the Italian Anarchists hear things are done like this in the UK?"
Another friend of mine who was a bit pissed explained.
I think they were a bit miffed at the "drink tea with policemen" policy.
Local Newspaper News Shopper-
Many residents living by the heath seemed relaxed about the protest, with some saying they would pay the site a visit.
Web designer Stuart Mitchell, 38, of Dartmouth Terrace, said: “It doesn’t bother me really and it’s for a good cause. Let them do it.
“They’ve been really quiet. The most noise at night was from the police helicopter buzzing overhead.”
Looking out over the city, the camp is on common land where, in 1381, preacher John Ball gave what was probably the country's first speech against class oppression as part of the Peasants’ Revolt.
Jim McManus, 60, of Dartmouth Terrace said: “The issues they stand for are very important and it’s good to see that political activism is alive and well.
“It’s common land and because of the history with the peasants’ revolt it’s an ideal spot for them.”
James Allan, 77, of The Orchard, said: “This household is quite relaxed on the whole subject.
“My partner thinks it’s very good for them to get some fresh air.”
But Lewisham Mayor Sir Steve Bullock drew parallels between the “stupidity” of the campaigners and football hooligans on his website.
He told News Shopper: “I don’t think that a camp like this, which was unannounced and uninvited in an area which is a beautiful part of London is the right way to do this.
“My concern is that it actually distracts from the practical job of getting up and doing something about climate change.”
..
UN-ARSED CLIMATE CAMP
Day Two Guardian
Climate Camp and The Police Guardian
Whitechapel Anarchist group
Police adopt low profile as 1,000 Climate Camp activists set up base- Guardian
Just before 7pm the Met's chief superintendent Julia Pendry, silver commander in charge of tactics for the operation, walked on to the site to talk to organisers, sparking a hostile response from a crowd of around a dozen anarchists. Apparently against the wishes of the rest of the camp, they shouted "scum", "kill the pigs" and "you murdered Ian Tomlinson" at Pendry as she left the site with a colleague.
But she struck a conciliatory note, apparently undeterred by the taunts. "The meeting was extremely useful. I have been extremely impressed by the number of people who are calm, welcoming. I got offered a cup of tea and that is how it should be," she said.
Asked if the insults had bothered her, she said: "It's the sort of thing any experienced police officer has seen before. I hope the camp is successful."
Well I thought day two was great from what I could see. I was up there for the afternoon. It is massive. Seriously I was really surprised how big it was and wandering around I could only feel a positive atmosphere except for some silly masks who were obviously so disappointed that there wasn't a ruck with the cops. What is the excitement? I don't get it.
Being a bit of a yesteryear protester myself I was really pleased to see so many fresh young faces I didn't recognise, and none of the moany old moss covered fuckers going on about their personal squabbles and what went wrong with "The Movement". The only old faces I saw up there were the people who were positive then and I am glad to see they are still positive now.
There were some photographers wandering round and I saw a couple of heated debates about them taking photos which was a bit annoying. I just demanded that they take pictures of us. Fuck it. How are you going to get society to change? Interest people? Maybe? Like real people outisde of your little group? Maybe? People who don't look like you maybe?
Ridiculous.
People can arse-ache on about corporate media blah all they like I don't give a fuck. If the Guardian are employing Hannah Kuchler, as far as I am concerned they have "the movement" right there. I will always remember her and her friends on Day-X when the Iraq war started.
It is nothing to do with me, but personally I am quite happy that SOME of the Climate Camp invited the Chief of Police Operations on site. They should be proud to justify and demonstrate what they are up to to all who will listen. Last time there was a big protest in Kingsnorth the Police action was heavy handed and over the top. This time, so far it isn't. That is only going to disappoint people in black wearing masks and probably a few on the other side also wearing black and holding truncheons who will have to go and kill the atmosphere at Notting Hill carnival instead. Fuck all of them. They aren't interested in Climate camp anyway.
Trouble is, if there isn't trouble the mainstream news will blank it as usual. There has to be the right balance between teaching, learning and pushing for things to change eh. I like the newsround (for kids)coverage here.
If you are thinking of heading up, go. I couldn't believe the effort people have gone to, errecting massive marquees, building toilets and stages all for free and for the sharing of positive knowledge.
Which is a good thing.
Strange Adventures in Copland:
...So it was with all this in mind that I stood up in front of a crowd of seventy police officers on Thursday afternoon, and explained to them why the Climate Camp was happening, how non-hierarchical decision-making works, and what this year's Camp will probably look like. I then described what it was like to be charged by a line of riot cops for no discernible reason, to watch your friends being beaten over the head and arrested on meaningless charges, to see people in front of you being pepper-sprayed in the face, and to know you have to stand your ground anyway with your hands in the air because the alternative is to let a beautiful Camp be trampled under their steel-toecapped boots. They listened, in silence. It was one of the weirdest things I've ever done in my life. Whether or not it will make any difference, I really couldn't say; but it felt oddly liberating all the same...
Climate campers get a lesson in citizen journalism- Guardian
from Hamish Campell and Richard Hering who was the voice of the pre-camp video posted below and who was briefly going to be involved in my project with the mad Muslims at one point some years ago.
..
Climate Camp and The Police Guardian
Whitechapel Anarchist group
Police adopt low profile as 1,000 Climate Camp activists set up base- Guardian
Just before 7pm the Met's chief superintendent Julia Pendry, silver commander in charge of tactics for the operation, walked on to the site to talk to organisers, sparking a hostile response from a crowd of around a dozen anarchists. Apparently against the wishes of the rest of the camp, they shouted "scum", "kill the pigs" and "you murdered Ian Tomlinson" at Pendry as she left the site with a colleague.
But she struck a conciliatory note, apparently undeterred by the taunts. "The meeting was extremely useful. I have been extremely impressed by the number of people who are calm, welcoming. I got offered a cup of tea and that is how it should be," she said.
Asked if the insults had bothered her, she said: "It's the sort of thing any experienced police officer has seen before. I hope the camp is successful."
Well I thought day two was great from what I could see. I was up there for the afternoon. It is massive. Seriously I was really surprised how big it was and wandering around I could only feel a positive atmosphere except for some silly masks who were obviously so disappointed that there wasn't a ruck with the cops. What is the excitement? I don't get it.
Being a bit of a yesteryear protester myself I was really pleased to see so many fresh young faces I didn't recognise, and none of the moany old moss covered fuckers going on about their personal squabbles and what went wrong with "The Movement". The only old faces I saw up there were the people who were positive then and I am glad to see they are still positive now.
There were some photographers wandering round and I saw a couple of heated debates about them taking photos which was a bit annoying. I just demanded that they take pictures of us. Fuck it. How are you going to get society to change? Interest people? Maybe? Like real people outisde of your little group? Maybe? People who don't look like you maybe?
Ridiculous.
People can arse-ache on about corporate media blah all they like I don't give a fuck. If the Guardian are employing Hannah Kuchler, as far as I am concerned they have "the movement" right there. I will always remember her and her friends on Day-X when the Iraq war started.
It is nothing to do with me, but personally I am quite happy that SOME of the Climate Camp invited the Chief of Police Operations on site. They should be proud to justify and demonstrate what they are up to to all who will listen. Last time there was a big protest in Kingsnorth the Police action was heavy handed and over the top. This time, so far it isn't. That is only going to disappoint people in black wearing masks and probably a few on the other side also wearing black and holding truncheons who will have to go and kill the atmosphere at Notting Hill carnival instead. Fuck all of them. They aren't interested in Climate camp anyway.
Trouble is, if there isn't trouble the mainstream news will blank it as usual. There has to be the right balance between teaching, learning and pushing for things to change eh. I like the newsround (for kids)coverage here.
If you are thinking of heading up, go. I couldn't believe the effort people have gone to, errecting massive marquees, building toilets and stages all for free and for the sharing of positive knowledge.
Which is a good thing.
Strange Adventures in Copland:
...So it was with all this in mind that I stood up in front of a crowd of seventy police officers on Thursday afternoon, and explained to them why the Climate Camp was happening, how non-hierarchical decision-making works, and what this year's Camp will probably look like. I then described what it was like to be charged by a line of riot cops for no discernible reason, to watch your friends being beaten over the head and arrested on meaningless charges, to see people in front of you being pepper-sprayed in the face, and to know you have to stand your ground anyway with your hands in the air because the alternative is to let a beautiful Camp be trampled under their steel-toecapped boots. They listened, in silence. It was one of the weirdest things I've ever done in my life. Whether or not it will make any difference, I really couldn't say; but it felt oddly liberating all the same...
Climate campers get a lesson in citizen journalism- Guardian
from Hamish Campell and Richard Hering who was the voice of the pre-camp video posted below and who was briefly going to be involved in my project with the mad Muslims at one point some years ago.
..
August 24, 2009
NOT TELLING
UPDATE: The Police, from what I briefly saw pretty much behaved as requested. I was in the city lunch time and there were maybe six city Police observing what was going on and the touring group of cyclists who passed was totally unescorted. To be fair they didn't seem to stop anywhere for long either. As you can see from the website, no cops to be seen at Climate Camp. I bet everyone is well dissapointed.
..
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