Rising Tiders from across the UK traveled to this year’s climate camp. Our first reaction – wow the site is in the back garden of RBS HQ! (Hats off to the people who took the site). The camp was undoubtedly smaller in size than previous camps but that was made up for in the number of actions that took place and the great spirit around the camp. We all got stuck in to helping the camp run smoothly; setting up, cooking, helping in the kids space, taking shifts on the gates, helping meetings run well, and of course helping to plan actions!
On Saturday we ran a Greenwash Guerrilla workshop and action where 70 people came along to find out more about greenwash detection. After the workshop people made their own suits, collected their detection device of choice and off we set for a test run. And where better than across the footbridge to RBS HQ. After we had managed to establish that the levels of greenwash leaking from the building were at an unprecedented level, the police arrived and under a section 60 power stopped and searched most of the guerrillas. Forward Intelligence Teams took photographs and we all refused to give our details.
Next we set off on the 35 bus into the RBS sponsored fringe festival. Here we played with the street performers on the Royal Mile, gave out 2,000 leaflets to passers by warning of RBS greenwash and suffered a greenwash overload at an RBS flagship branch. It seemed a good way to outreach to the fringe festival although in some ways we blended into a crazy mix of street theater and entertainment. Lots of people enjoyed the tactic however and we hope to see bands of greenwash guerrillas invading offices and arriving at sponsored events across the country over the coming months.
The following day, hot to trot, most of the camp made a surprise excursion across the footbridge (a day before the ‘day of action’) and attempted to enter RBS HQ. Windows were smashed in an attempt to occupy the building but police back up put a stop to that and people returned to camp to plan the following day. This was an interesting action for the climate camp and lead to much debate that night. Is smashing windows violent? Discuss.
Finally the day of action arrived and many affinity groups left the camp to put their plans into action. Off site some banks became theaters, while others were occupied, super-glued or sprayed. The Crude Awaking (a mass action against the oil industry on the 16th of October, which Rising Tide has agreed to support and help mobilize for) was launched with a tremendous Trojan Pig action. See the video below.
On site, some helped a rhino siege tower (it’s a long story) made it’s way to the gate, while others watched 3 person catapults used to blast the HQ with molasses.
Over all feedback – a really great camp!
For more photos of the camp click here – Images.
For videos of the camp click here - Climate Camp TV.
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