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A Personal Experience at Climate Camp with photos

Mike Wells | 11.08.2008 16:35 | Climate Camp 2008 | Climate Chaos | Ecology | Globalisation

A brief and subjective report of my time at Climate Camp with photos.

General View of a very small part of camp with power station in background
General View of a very small part of camp with power station in background

entrance to camp gaurded by campers
entrance to camp gaurded by campers

entracne to camp gaurded on other side by police
entracne to camp gaurded on other side by police

Police do some kind neolithic war chant
Police do some kind neolithic war chant

a picnic is legal isn't it?
a picnic is legal isn't it?

they came from all directions
they came from all directions

fence offence sit down protest
fence offence sit down protest

Police carry Grandmother away
Police carry Grandmother away

photographers jostle while handcuffs go on
photographers jostle while handcuffs go on

bonus photo of police search station where all campers were searched
bonus photo of police search station where all campers were searched


Climate Camp day of Action:

after a bad night’s sleep with the police helicopter burning taxpayers money overhead for what seemed a large part of the night, I went off on a bike borrowed from the Climate Camp’s utopian “bike library”. There were around 12 of us, all on bikes. There were some vague plans but basically we were just going out to protest and see what happened. A rather optimistic statement had been made that the Kingsnorth Power Station was to be shut down by activists, and we were supposed to be activists. But I was not feeling at all positive, and was wondering what the hell it was all for, what the hell I was doing there, and would this really change anything when our political masters seem so removed from reality, etc.

Some very competent navigation by members of our group led us down little lanes and footpaths, across the Kent countryside. Stopping only to read the map and debate strategy and route, to nibble blackberries, and hold an interview with a Guardian journalist, who leaped out of taxi, eventually we came to an entrance of the Kingsnorth Power station where a rather surprised group of police started shouting in call and return a sort of Neolithic war chant consisting of deep grunting noises. Keep banging the rocks together guys. They frightened the hell out of me, I was in such a hurry to get back on my bike I managed to knee the frame and did a sort of limping cycle away with the others who seemed a lot less freaked out than me. We continued round the perimeter fence of the power station ignoring a farmer’s notice, which mentioned something about a bull in a field.

We came to a great spot where the perimeter fence of the power station met the coastline. A good spot for a picnic we thought, and surely picnicking here would not be illegal. Considering we were in the midst of what was probably the most policed area in the country it appeared that we had found a chink in the authorities defence of the power station, there was not a police officer in sight. I think most of us felt pretty good about that, but within a few minutes a couple of officers on scramble motorbikes sped along the sea wall. I guess we could have made an effort to climb the perimeter fence but first there was a temporary fence they had erected for the day then another fence with nasty pointy bits on top and then behind that was the electric fence. No one had brought their pole vault. So we just had our picnic by this time being watched by a couple of police women on horses

Hundreds of protesters seemed to be coming at the power station from all directions some were wading through water others on foot in the fields. From the shore we could see others in rubber boats who made landfall right opposite the power station but were soon taken away in police boats.

After picnicking we continued cycling round the power station when we met a couple of local lads who told us about a back way into the power station which we also tried. It appeared the police had eventually figured that out too so we legged it then biked it out of there.

Arriving at the scene of the rally late I found most people had left, but a bunch of around 24 protesters were left behind and had decided to do a sit down protest right up against the fence of the power station main entrance.

In defence of the environment they sat against the fence, and despite being told they were committing an offence by officers of the law they sat and refused to move. The officers repeatedly told them of their offence but believing they were acting in defence of a greater crime they continued their environmental defence fence offence. But in defence of the state, and because they are paid to do what they are told, some big strong policemen in body armour and helmets eventually had the humiliation of carrying a grandmother, and others to waiting vans. The grandmother said, to the photographers, who were jostling each other for the best shot of the granny being handcuffed and bundled into the van, “I am doing this for my grandchildren, I feel very strongly about this”. Grandmother I salute you, but Russia had been bombing the lovely country of Georgia and though the photographers jostled each other you were knocked off the front page and there instead was a photograph of another Grandmother in the midst of the flames and destruction of war.

At the end of the day my mood of helplessness and negativity had lifted. I had met some very high quality people, intelligent, considerate and trustworthy types. I had some interesting conversations on a variety of subjects. For example having an attention to detail deficit, which leaves huge holes in my knowledge on many subjects, I learnt from a Manchester teacher the details and extent to which the unions in Britain have been disempowered by various Acts of Parliament.

Despite being surrounded by though looking cops dressed in black and looking like something out of Blade Runner a community had been created inside the Camp, one in which an accepting and cosy atmosphere rained. I felt good about having contributed in a small way to something, something that felt right. I had helped do the washing up in a Climate Camp Kitchen and had played a tiny role in something that feels like a social movement. Something that is hopefully the beginning of something that might help re-democratise, and bring some consensus in decision making to our society.

On leaving the Camp and hitching back to the station a man with a middle eastern accent, wearing a stripy apron, and looking as though he may have just stopped work in his fast food shop, stopped to give us a lift. When we arrived at the station and a gang of around 10 of us scruffy field dwellers fell out of his van I was just about to offer him my profuse thanks when I realised he was thanking us. He told us we were an inspiration and he really meant it. My eyes moistened as I thanked him for the lift and walked away.

Mike Wells
- e-mail: mikejwells@yahoo.com

Additions

Request for witnesses and photo/video evidence

11.08.2008 18:38

You'll see this comment elsewhere on indymedia. It is a request that people who witnessed or took photos or videos of arrests, assaults or searches etc. please contact  legal@climatecamp.org.uk ASAP

legal team
mail e-mail: legal@climatecamp.org.uk
- Homepage: http://climatecamp.org.uk


Comments

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Thanks Mike

11.08.2008 17:07

Thanks for that Mike, and some brilliant pictures.

w


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Thanks for the first realistic account

12.08.2008 14:14

This is the first post here that gives a proper account of the event - thank you for your honesty.

The majority


Yes an inspiration

12.08.2008 17:27

I'm a local resident and the camp was an total inspiration to me too, I want you all to stay and help continue to fight this. As well as many local residents that support this issue there are many more that don't, how can we convince them?? Please see local forum for what we are up against:
(It is exausting trying to help people to see sense!)

 http://www.kentonline.co.uk/speakout/view_topic.asp?topic_recid=523

Thank you climate camp but don't desert us we need help!!!
Steph



Steph


Hey Steph!

12.08.2008 22:20

Your comment really made my heart go out to you! I unfortunately didn't go to the camp this year, but have been to the last 2 and have been involved in other stuff in Nottingham. I and my boyfriend have been watching from afar and have commented on the speak out forum- I see why you are frustrated but I have been heartened by the amount of sensible comments as well as exasperated with the 'ostriches'.

I'm so glad that you are inspired by the camp, and many other locals by the sounds of it. From what I have heard/ read, if the new power station goes ahead, then people will return to fight it. But what I would say is that you should maybe think of getting together with others in the local area to maybe join an existing neighbourhood or start a new one- or maybe join KCAM and be inspired to take action. Keep in touch with what's happening with the camp for climate action- I don't know what'll be happening next year, but there will be meetings and things you can get involved with and maybe help plan next years camp if there is going to be one!

I know what it's like to live in a small town and feel like no one seems to care about these important issues- I used to live in one! But by the sounds of it, you already have a group of committed passionate people there who are prepared to take action- that's a good thing!

All the best :)

Katy


Thanks!

13.08.2008 10:09

Thank Katy,

'Ostriches' is so right, it made me laugh out loud! Yes, it's great that there do appear to be lots of locals that are thinking about this on there. I'm just new to the whole 'getting these issues out there' thing, i've been aware before but not on the level of actually trying to show people what's actually happening so it's quite hard to know how to deal with the ostriches!! It's very hard to try and keep things factual when people just post unimaginative insults!! I feel quite sorry for them really.

Thanks for your help though! I'm going to go to KCAM on Monday and get involved, it's just a shame I didn't know about them before the camp!

Thanks
:-)
Steph

Steph


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