Life in the climate camp
So, what was life like in the Climate Camp this week? Well – a
mixture of things but overall “inspirational” doesn’t seem a bad
description.
Arriving at Kingsnorth
Once new arrivals had negotiated the Orwellian lines of
latex-gloved police, bags picked apart and hastily repacked, pink
search report stuffed in pocket, we were welcomed with a cheery
greeting and a helping hand as we clambered over the stile by the
main entrance barrier and into the camp.
The welcome tent provided a handbook of guidelines and
information about the camp, a selection of topical leaflets,
guidance on where to go next and periodic tours of the site to help
you find your feet. We were asked for a donation based on ability
to pay to help cover the cost of the facilities, but there was no
pressure on those who might struggle to contribute.
The campsite itself was divided into neighbourhoods based on
regions of the country, so campers would gravitate towards their
locality. We headed off for “London”, the biggest grouping. Each
neighbourhood had a tent for cooking and supplying the regular
meals, providing hot drinks and a space to hang out, read, discuss
things and of course act as a venue for the daily neighbourhood
organising meetings.
Facilities at the camp
The team who built the camp certainly knew what they were
doing. Boarding marked out the main walkways (though mud was not a
problem despite some rain). Solar panels and portable windmills
supplied all the camp’s power needs. A network of plastic piping
delivered mains water across the site to various standpipes and
hand-washing points, with no leaks in evidence at all.
There was a strong emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene, with a
constant supply of anti-bacterial handwash and regular exhortations
to wash hands carefully before food and after using the toilets. In
the London tent one very gracious volunteer meticulously cleaned
the grubby digits of every camper queuing for their meals.
The menu varied each day and in each kitchen. Everything was
organic, vegan and, I am quite certain, locally sourced. For three
good tasty meals a day those in work were asked to donate a total
of £4 but again there was no pressure on those a bit strapped for
cash. The kitchen staff were all volunteers, as were the communal
washing-up teams.
Anyone with experience of the dismal toilet facilities at the
average music festival will have been mightily impressed by the
clean, dry, odour-free composting “poo saloons” erected in each
area of the camp. We were all urged to pee on E.ON but, as with
last year’s camp, the byproducts of this event will seriously
enhance the potato harvest at a nearby organic farm next year. And
there was no shortage of toilet paper either!
Dirty water was filtered before being poured into the ground and
rubbish was meticulously sorted for recycling. There was no
littering but teams went searching for anything – such as cigarette
butts – that might prove dangerous to the sheep who normally occupy
the field.
Camp life
The timetable of meetings, workshops, film shows, planning
meetings and training sessions was intensive throughout the week,
and there was always something to attend or join in. The kids’ tent
provided toys, activities and even a clown for the more youthful
protestors, though sadly, crayons and board games were not
available after police raided the camp and understandably
confiscated these dangerous items.
My only serious complaint was that I never once arrived at the
bakery in time to get a slice of camp-baked vegan cake. Clearly
organisers seriously under-estimated the cake to camper ratio
actually required. Matters were only made worse by the regular
morning baking workshops. An inviting aroma would waft out past a
big sign saying “Don’t disturb the workshop – no cakes on sale
yet”. My advice – more bakeries next year!
The campers were a varied array of activists and campaigners of
all ages and backgrounds but with a healthy youthful average age
that bodes well for the future. Children ran around having fun with
each other or spun the pedals on bike-powered Gameboys,
bubbleblowers and mini-sound systems. There were poetry recitals,
singing workshops, body painting, films and in the evenings people
partied while bands such as Seize the
Day performed. The Bolivia Solidarity Campaign presented a dance
workshop during Wednesday’s Latin American themed evening – though,
inevitably, the spears they normally dance with had been
confiscated by the police.
Meanwhile the media team provided both
TV and
radio
broadcasts and a pool of
acredited photographers recorded the events: other
media were allowed in between 11am and 1pm each day on guided
tours.
Camp politics
Clearly, many of those attending the camp would in no way
describe themselves as socialists and many have little experience
of working within the labour movement. Nevertheless,
Arthur Scargill’s early appearance, along with
Dave Douglass, at the camp had obviously caused a bit
of a stir with their
controversial views on continued coal
production, and the importance of relating to and engaging
trade unionists in the power industry and other sectors was raised
in a number of sessions.
Groups of campers set out at 6.45am each morning and 5pm each
evening to talk to workers at the power station gates as the
changed shift. Clearly some local workers had serious concerns
about the impact a change to a low carbon economy would have on
their job security so this type of activity was essential to engage
them in the arguments for a just transition with planning for
proper retraining and full employment for those in affected
industries.
However, many locals were very sympathetic to the camp. I
won’t bother repeating here what has been said elsewhere about the
police intimidation and harassment which was the constant backdrop
to the camp’s activities, except to quote one
70 year old woman:
“The police have gone way over the top, it's disgusting. You
hardly notice the campers, it's the police making all the noise and
creating all the aggro. They have the helicopter constantly
circling round and their dogs barking, they're the ones causing the
problems.”
The camp was self-managed, with regular open meetings to plan
everything from entrance duty rotas to changing the straw in the
toilet areas. Participation was active, lively and enthusiastic.
Everyone was encouraged to join in and contribute. It was
noticeable that women had a very high profile in all areas of
activity, meetings were relaxed and easy to participate in and a
friendly and warm atmosphere pervaded the camp. As one of the
younger protestors said: “The atmosphere was really nice and
welcoming and everyone seemed kind and lively.” This police-free
space was also a crime-free, kid-friendly and safe place to
be.
More on the week’s events
For more detail of the week’s activities check out some of the
independent and mainstream blogs:
the Camp’s own website, Indymedia, YouTube’s
Climate Camp page, the Guardian and the Medway Messenger are good places to start.
The camp cost around £40,000 to organise – small beer compared
to the rumoured £5,000 an hour to keep the police helicopter flying
and the millions of pounds the whole police operation will have run
to. Nevertheless £40,000 is a lot for a bunch of hardup activists
to raise. Give them a hand by going to the
Climate Camp
website and using the Donate panel on the left hand side.
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