Climate Camp Claims Victory as Bishopsgate Occupied for 12 hours
Climate Camper | 02.04.2009 12:50 | G20 London Summit | Climate Chaos | Ecology | Globalisation
Yesterday around 2000 protesters set up a Camp for Climate Action in the
middle of the Square Mile, closing a major road for 12 hours. The Camp was
located outside the European Climate Exchange on Bishopsgate, to protest
against the G20's plans to use deeply flawed carbon trading mechanisms to
tackle climate change.
middle of the Square Mile, closing a major road for 12 hours. The Camp was
located outside the European Climate Exchange on Bishopsgate, to protest
against the G20's plans to use deeply flawed carbon trading mechanisms to
tackle climate change.
(See 
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk//node/552 for some beautiful pictures of the Camp.)
As planned, hundreds of protesters “swooped” from all over the City at
12.30pm and set up tents, bunting and bicycles in order to reclaim a large
portion of the financial district. Throughout the day there was a
programme of workshops on themes such as the absurdity of carbon trading,
the history of social movements and alternative economic models, whilst
pedal powered sound systems and live bands provided entertainment, a
kitchen provided hundreds of meals and a farmers market gave away organic
vegetables.
One camper, Jessica Harward said: “The atmosphere was creative and joyful.
This part of London is usually a major part of the climate problem,
through the funding of fossil fuels and disastrous carbon trading schemes.
For 12 hours we turned it into part of the climate solution.”
Despite assurances made on Tuesday morning by Commander Broadhurst to
climate campers in the office of David Howarth, MP, at 7pm on Wednesday
riot police violently attacked the camp, injuring many peaceful campers
and bystanders who were not allowed to leave the area. Despite this
incursion, the atmosphere at the Camp remained calm and happy until around
midnight, when riot police again moved in and aggressively dispersed the
Camp.
Another camper, Dave Spencer, said “We were here to expose carbon trading
as a financial fraud which has nothing to do with climate change. Our
success in turning Bishopsgate into an eco-camp has clearly rattled the
authorities, who once again have used unnecessary force against us. We
won't be deterred though – climate change is the most urgent issue in the
world, and our movement is growing stronger all of the time.”
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk//node/552 for some beautiful pictures of the Camp.) As planned, hundreds of protesters “swooped” from all over the City at
12.30pm and set up tents, bunting and bicycles in order to reclaim a large
portion of the financial district. Throughout the day there was a
programme of workshops on themes such as the absurdity of carbon trading,
the history of social movements and alternative economic models, whilst
pedal powered sound systems and live bands provided entertainment, a
kitchen provided hundreds of meals and a farmers market gave away organic
vegetables.
One camper, Jessica Harward said: “The atmosphere was creative and joyful.
This part of London is usually a major part of the climate problem,
through the funding of fossil fuels and disastrous carbon trading schemes.
For 12 hours we turned it into part of the climate solution.”
Despite assurances made on Tuesday morning by Commander Broadhurst to
climate campers in the office of David Howarth, MP, at 7pm on Wednesday
riot police violently attacked the camp, injuring many peaceful campers
and bystanders who were not allowed to leave the area. Despite this
incursion, the atmosphere at the Camp remained calm and happy until around
midnight, when riot police again moved in and aggressively dispersed the
Camp.
Another camper, Dave Spencer, said “We were here to expose carbon trading
as a financial fraud which has nothing to do with climate change. Our
success in turning Bishopsgate into an eco-camp has clearly rattled the
authorities, who once again have used unnecessary force against us. We
won't be deterred though – climate change is the most urgent issue in the
world, and our movement is growing stronger all of the time.”
Climate Camper
Homepage:
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
police violence g20 climate camp illegal brutal not a riot
02.04.2009 13:30
Police have a crack at a dangerous crowd of psycopaths, or a load of people who're obviously involved in a peaceful protest and who are doing nothing at all to provoke any reaction.
Police have a crack at a dangerous crowd of psycopaths, or a load of people who're obviously involved in a peaceful protest and who are doing nothing at all to provoke any reaction.
#imcg20
cops in yellow
02.04.2009 19:39
**&
ffs let's be more honest
04.04.2009 10:06
But we failed in our aim to stay overnight, which would have disrupted work at the European Climate Exchange. Thus the event had more of a 'symbolic' value and the 'disruptive' value of it was reduced.
To over-estimate our effectiveness does no one any favours, because it prevents us from learning the necessary lessons and becoming smarter in our strategy. The Camp wasn't a complete failure, but it wasn't an amazing victory either. If we can't be honest with ourselves about this we will never get anywhere.
CCA needs to re-think its obsession with the media, its need to spin everything positively.
It doesn't matter if we win every battle, what matters is that we learn from it, come back smarter and more determined, so that we win the war.
f