Read on for info re.
1. POST-CAMP FOLLOW-UP MEETING (OCT 13/14) DETAILS
2. AN A-Z OF WHY THE CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION WAS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT
3. WE'RE WITNESSING THE BIRTH OF A NEW PROTEST MOVEMENT TO FORCE ACTION ON GLOBAL WARMING, Johann Hari, Independent, 5.9.06
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1. The Camp for Climate Action seems to have catalysed commitment to build a real movement to combat climate chaos, a movement that feels more motivated by direct action than lobbying deadbeat governments.
It also carved the debate much wider than just squabbling about what forms of market-led so-called solution to the emergency we're going to waste our energy on this week.
For Rising Tide there was a real boost with the news that a new group is coming together in Edinburgh and others around the country are considering becoming local contacts. Our friends from Rising Tide North America inspired us with the sortedness of their organisation (already!) and their passionate belief in climate justice.
There will be a follow-up meeting at MERCi (www.merci.org.uk) in Manchester on October 14th & 15th to reflect on how the Climate Camp went for all of us, and to talk about what we would like to do next. Everyone is welcome to come. For more information email facilitation[at]climatecamp.org.uk or subscribe to the announcements list at www.climatecamp.org.uk
There will be a showing of the Camp for Climate Action film, a debrief and a look ahead at RampART in east London on Tuesday September 12th: http://www.londonrisingtide.org.uk/node/58
The Camp for Climate Action has been an amazing success but is now £4000 in debt, please donate if you can.
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Under the shadow of Drax power station, the Camp for Climate Action burst into life. Running from August 26 to September 4, 2006, this totally unprecedented project involved hundreds of people from across the UK coming together. The camp was a great success, with a packed programme of workshops, and the camp itself was organised in an environmentally-friendly way, and powered by sustainable energy sources - wind turbines, solar panels, and small-scale biodiesel. Participants used as little power as possible, and produced as little landfill waste as possible, as the majority of waste was either composted or recycled. Direct actions included a ten hour blockade of Hartlepool nuclear power station, and a mass convergence on Drax coal-fired power station.
Read about the Climate Camp (or add your own report), at http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/actions/2006/climatecamp/
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2.
A London Rising Tider writes...
AN A-Z OF WHY THE CAMP FOR CLIMATE ACTION WAS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT
A: ‘A CHOICE OF FUTURES’
Some bright spark had the vision and organisation to print out this
message, one letter per page, laminate each one (OK, a bit fossil
fuel-friendly) and pin them to the gate alongside the entrance to our
site. It provided a perfect backdrop to loads of press pictures, as well
as lifting the spirits of loads of people arriving to participate.
B: BUDDIES
On our actions our group used a system of ‘buddying’ every individual
together with one other, the idea being that they would stay together
through the thick and thin of twisted ankles or arrest. It made sure no
one was left behind or lost, and also that each of us had someone to chat
to about how we were feeling. At times there was a nursery school ‘two-by-two’
vibe to this that I found quite comforting.
C: CAMPING LIGHT
My impact on the planet was well minimised by living in a tent in a field
for 10 days, using (beautifully constructed) compost toilets, eating
locally-grown food and washing in crisp, cold water of a morning.
D: DRAX
Now miraculously included in the FTSE 4 Good index of 'ethical' companies,
and included here for being so eminently rhymable, my favourite being
'cracks'. Also included for providing such a powerfully forbidding and
symbolic backdrop to our drop in the ocean of a solution. Let's raise a
glass of CO2 especially to Melanie Wedgebury, Drax Power’s External
Affairs Manager, who stuck doggedly to the satisfyingly ridiculous line
that we were all working for the same thing, but that some were working
from the inside. Melanie, we await your leaks!
E: EVERYONE WHO MADE IT HAPPEN
I kept finding myself overwhelmed by the enormous chunks of people’s time
that had been ploughed into making it happen, and making it so brilliantly
organised on pretty much every level. Not enough people came to make some
of the mass action stuff really effective in a beyond-symbolism kind of
way, but on the other hand the 500 or so of us that made it were
tightly-knit enough to trigger a real sense of fellowship in the face of
the job we have to do. And maybe with 1000, some of the logistical stuff
(eg. overburdened compost toilets) might have really struggled…something
to ponder when we come to look at how and when to do this again, and
again.
F: FEAR
In the long build-up I’d worried that I would struggle to stay through the
ten days without wanting to scurry away from the prospect of non-stop
other people. I also didn’t relish the thought of long days and nights
punctuated by physical confrontations with the police, (particularly those
from London town, the Petropolitan Police). But in the end, sharing such a
powerful collective desire to change the world for the better with so many
others meant I was fuelled by a strong but not overwhelming sense of
euphoria right through to the end. The trickier trick of course is to
carry at least the spark of that euphoria back to everyday life…
My direct action and police aggression fears are always there, but here I
felt I was mostly able to move through them rather than be engulfed by
them. Realising that long shadows are often born of tiny, surmountable
seeds is a lesson I have to keep relearning…
G: GRASS
That was good green stuff we were camped on, and the ground beneath took a
tent peg very nicely.
H: HYPOCRITE WITHIN, THE
Learning to love him/her and take action all the same. We’re all complicit
to some degree in this shot-to-hell system, but that’s no reason to burrow
down under the covers muttering ‘I’d be a hypocrite if I helped ‘cos I
flew to Minneapolis last week to see my niece.’
Let’s not hear it for mind-numbing, soul-searing guilt which can cripple
the heart and write a sick note excusing us from getting out there and
making good things happen. Let’s hear it instead for an awareness of the
effects of our actions on others, and for that awareness to act as a spur
to minimise the negative impacts of what we do…and while we’re at it to
transform this entire rotten economic growth-crazed system.
I: INCURSIONS
Here’s to the brave souls (especially those for whom this was a first
taste of direct action) who got over the fence and dismantled the myth of
Drax as ‘impregnable fortress’.
J: JOY
Even some of the dourest amongst us confessed to being tickled by this
most necessary of feelings. I felt it most every time I noticed how we
took care of eachother in all kinds of practical and emotional ways, and
the way the daily routine jobs found volunteers without the usually
obligatory embarrassing silence.
A good brew of inspiration, dedication, fresh faces and experience helped
us to pull off plenty of what we set out to do, (and more than many of us
dared to expect). Best of all, the euphoria bubbling up and over towards
the end of the camp looks to have some staying power, helped by the
pre-announced follow-up meeting in Manchester on October 14/15th and local
groups already sorting public showings of the rough cut of peoples’ camp
footage.
K: KITCHENS
They came from Yorkshire, Oxford, London, Nottingham, Scotland, the West
and Manchester. Miracles of last-minute (if London was anything
to go by) organisation, they still managed to knock out tasty meals twice
a day, (three times if you include the porridge, incidentally the only way
to start a long day of action.)
L: LOCAL PEOPLE
I couldn’t believe it, cycling round Drax and its surrounding villages,
seeing people wave to us even before we had a hand raised in greeting. And
here’s to our neighbour who came over especially to thank us for being
such considerate neighbours and ended up on local telly saying the same
with real feeling.
M: MEDIA
On the whole, it was pretty damn good, and even some of the bad was
excellent, because at least being slagged off in The Sun, Sunday Times or
Yorkshire Post meant the news of what we were up to had filtered out
beyond the ‘liberal’ media. (I did take issue though with our great and
good sharing a front page of The Independent with Arnold Schwarzenegger
and his free market solutions.) The policy of an hour per day for them to
come on site with an escort (carrying a red flag as if escorting a plague
victim), which was hammered out at one of the monthly weekend meetings
leading up to the Camp, seemed to work well, but next time everyone needs
to know about it before it starts.
Some media folk were bewildered that we would rather forego publicity than
ignore a collectively-made decision about access, which led to some terse
exchanges at the gate, but too bad.
News that The Independent had decided to run the story on its front page
on the morning of the mass action lifted the spirits of many, with even
some of the voices most critical of the corporate media arguing that our
visibility was key to the success of the Camp. Those lifted spirits did
get close to exasperation though when the word came through that the shot
of a load of smiling, energised Campers was deemed too light, and could
they get another, angrier or at least more determined shot? This resulted
in some angry words being thrown about between us as the debate about how
much we were prepared to be manipulated was played out in full earshot of
various media types at the gate. Eventually the second shot was abandoned,
partly at the recommendation of the media working group. And the original
shot ended up looking very nice on page 2 of the paper, with an aerial
shot of Drax winning top billing on the front page beneath the headline
‘The Battle of Drax’.
N: NUCLEAR BLOCKADE, HARTLEPOOL, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH
One of the (too) few smaller actions that took place before or after the
mass day of action, this 10 hour blockade of Hartlepool Nuclear Power
Station was a fantastic shot in the arm to everyone at the Camp, and made
sure that there was no chance that the pro-nukers could portray our
anti-coal stance as an implicit vote in favour of that absurdly suicidal
form of energy destruction.
O: OUR OSTRICH
A recently-awoken ostrich gradually became the Camp’s unofficial mascot,
especially after a lovely circular sticker bearing its likeness was sent
round the country. After seeing inspiring footage from street protests
outside the first UN meeting to discuss the climate problem back in Berlin
in 1995, I’d been hoping that our day of mass action would be similarly
joyous and beautiful to behold. So it was a real thrill to walk past on
the day before a rapidly materialising 10 foot ostrich, sporting high
fashion accessories made from (I think) old plastic bags and the like.
Press reports that said animal was a ‘Trojan ostrich’ stuffed with bike
locks, and as such had to be impounded by the police, were denied by
sources close to its belly.
The questions that need urgent answers are:
a) does he/she have a name?
b) has our 3D mascot been released from police custody?
c) has he/she been charged?
P: POETRY SLAMMED IN THE BAR
This was real shiver-down-the-spine stuff on the slightly jittery night
before the mass action, reminding us with heart and soul and a fantastical
waterfall of words why we do what we do.
Q: QUESTIONING THE LIMITS OF THE DEBATE AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE
We were able to bring issues around the suicide that is economic growth
and the gobsmackingly pitiful governmental and corporate response to
climate change into the mainstream, albeit for a few precious days, and
albeit surrounded by the same lunatic advertisements for cheap flights and
‘yah-boo I’m higher than you’ Land Rovers.
R: RISING TIDE NORTH AMERICA
They were inspired to come, and they ended up inspiring us with their
commitment to building a global movement for climate justice, their
understanding that climate change is much more than just an environmental
issue but something that’s a symptom of capitalism itself…and the fact
that they were lovely people.
S: SUPER-SORTEDNESS
Did I say this already? It’s worth saying a few times – the organisation
was brilliant, as was the lack of hierarchy between the jobs that needed
doing,
ie. staying up all night doing gate duty is just as important as
blockading the entrance to a nuclear power station, and cleaning the
compost toilets is just as important as doing media interviews.
One of the most encouraging sorted signs was the effort put into reaching
out to local people even before we arrived on site, which really seemed to
pay off. As did the stall at Selby train station and the visit by the
lovely Bicycology crew to have a ride round the town and run a Dr. Bike
session in the centre, which was mobbed by tikes with busted bikes.
T: TENT OF THE HOLY DECKS
I swear this materialised out of the ground just as it was most needed on
Friday night. It was set up with lights, tiaras and decks for a very
special birthday, but it ended up being a real blow-out party for loads of
people who’d been through a lot and were dying to let off some steam. That
did mean we went well past the ‘powerdown’ at midnight though, and some
weary people were kept awake too late…Anyone know how best to soundproof a
tent?
U: UNABLE TO MAKE IT, (ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO COME BUT WERE)
Next year, maybe?
V: VEGGIES
Nottingham’s ever-reliable catering campaign and burger van saved many a
day with their ever-excellent delights, (though I really felt the absence
of their brandy chocolate cake.)
W1: WELLBEING
There’s a real emphasis at big actions and mobilisations these days on
taking care of our physical and emotional needs, which is a real sign that
we’re moving beyond a culture of wanting to be heroes that never crack or
wobble. The Wellbeing space was beautifully set up and a crucial part of
our rural temporary autonomous zone.
W2: WORKSHOPS
160 or so workshops running the entire goddamn gamut of energy
dissent/descent and beyond. Wow.
X: EXHALATIONS
A little tai chi of a morning helped with these, and there’s nothing quite
like doing it with grass underfoot.
Y: YOUR GOOD THING HERE
In a tip of the hat to participatory alphabetting, insert your favourite
bit of Campery here…
Z: ZZZZZs
Pumping them out, dreaming with any luck of climate justice here and now,
(though never for quite long enough)…
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3.
WE'RE WITNESSING THE BIRTH OF A NEW PROTEST MOVEMENT TO FORCE ACTION ON GLOBAL WARMING
Selby is just the beginning
(Johann Hari, Independent, 5.9.06)
Exactly a year ago today, the US National Association of Insurance Commissioners was due to hold a conference about the consequences of global warming. A slew of experts was primed to present the scientific evidence that it has caused hurricanes to double in intensity since 1975, along with a report from the hard-headed Association of British Insurers showing that storm damage and deaths are going to increase by 60 per cent before I hit middle age. The meeting was cancelled. The venue - New Orleans - had been wrecked.
As Al Gore, the elected 43rd President of the United States, explained to me in Edinburgh last week: "When Katrina hit Florida, it was only a category one hurricane. Then it passed over the unusually warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and by the time it hit New Orleans, it was a category four." This may be just one small suggestive part, he said, of a global warming-based "collision between our civilisation and the earth". The stakes couldn't be higher: they are "our ability to live on this planet - to have a future as a civilisation". He added with a sad sigh: "I look around for really meaningful signs that we're going to change, and I don't see them."
So I headed for the environmentalist protest camp pitched outside a coal-fuelled power station in Selby, North Yorkshire, in search of such signs. In the shadow of the great cooling towers of Drax - which belch more global-warming gases into the atmosphere than any other single source in western Europe - there was a slew of white tents and the whirr of wind turbines.
Inside I found a blend of Glastonbury and open-air science seminar, where 600 protesters discussed climate chaos with a level of knowledge that would shame our news broadcasters. They discussed the six degrees Celsius of separation that stand between us and global crop failure, the melting of 40 per cent of the Arctic ice shelf in the past 40 years, and the evacuation of the world's low-lying islands (which has already begun).
They planned to shut down Drax for a day, "to stop the vandalism of the climate for just a moment, and to send out a message", as one put it. These protesters were tired of praying the world's scientists have made some unprecedented collective error, or waiting for a political Messiah to solve the problem.
A typical participant was Simon Lewis, a PhD in environmental science from Cambridge University. He explained: "The climate is now almost certainly changing faster than at any point in the earth's history. The ecosystems we all depend on for food are vulnerable to collapse. We are potentially going to unravel the very fabric of life. I know it sounds over the top, but the more you study the science and look at the clear rational evidence, the more terrified you become." He added, plainly: "People are here because they are refusing to witness a crime without doing something."
In open, democratic meetings, they talked about how two-thirds of Britain's CO2 emissions come from coal-powered fire stations - dwarfing all the SUVs and easyJets - and how Drax is currently suing the EU for the right to emit even more warming gases. This camp, they pledged, is only the beginning of a new movement determined to take direct action against the ongoing violence of polluters who knowingly unleash Weather of Mass Destruction across the world. Any violence the protesters might commit - limited strictly to property - will only ever be a tiny fraction of the violence they are combating.
This phenomenon is genuinely new under the sun: riots for restraint. The protest pattern since 1968 has been of young people demanding an abandonment of limits and restraints, and a sober older generation lecturing them on the need for responsibility. Last week saw precisely the opposite. These protesters came here to protest against the disinhibited vandalism of their parents' generation, and to call for a massive slash in carbon emissions now, before the climate starts to hit tipping points beyond which it spirals away from habitability.
The Sun newspaper predictably called the camp "naive beyond belief", but isn't the real naivety coming from people like them who say we should just sit back, ignore the warnings of virtually all the world's scientists, and continue to drastically change the chemical composition of the atmosphere?
The protesters are moving beyond a shallow Cameron-style lifestyle environmentalism that focuses solely on your own personal emissions in a way that teeters close to moral masturbation. They point out that you can spend a lifetime fretting about recycling every piece of paper you use, changing every light bulb in your home and composting every scrap of food, and it is all undone by one fool taking one unnecessary flight to Miami. It is far more effective to use all this energy on political activity that will impose legal restraints on us all.
As one protester, Joss Garman, explained: "It's not enough to burn fewer fossil fuels yourself. The science shows that to survive, we are going to have to force other people to burn fewer fossil fuels too." Normally, the language of forcing people would offend my libertarian instincts. But libertarians do not defend the right of people to smash holes in the hull of a crowded ship, or to let off bombs in city centres. Freedom does not include the freedom to trash the habitat we all depend on for survival.
The Selby climate camp was just a start. For too long, we have allowed the people who want to burn more fossil fuels to set the agenda. Look at the fuel protests. We allowed a small group of anti-greens to bring the country to a halt demanding lower petrol prices without challenge. Garman says now: "If that happens again, people like us will blockade the blockaders, demanding higher petrol prices, and we will stay longer and fight harder than them. Then we can see which side the Government is on."
As the protesters tried - and failed - to force their way into Drax, I couldn't stop thinking about the words of the Canadian conservationist Farley Mowat. Ten years ago, he wrote: "The last three decades of this century have witnessed the ignition of the most significant internal conflict ever to engage the human species.
"It is not the struggle between capitalism and communism or between any other set of 'isms'. It is the conflict between those who possess the means and will to exploit the living world to destruction, and those who are banding together in a desperate and last-ditch attempt to prevent the New Juggernaut from trashing our small planet."
To find out how to support this small band of the sane, go to www.climatecamp.org.uk now. If we don't act to stop this planetary frenzy of self-harm now, there will be more cancelled global warming conferences in more drowned cities.
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