London Indymedia

CLIMATE CAMP - happy days are here again!

mini mouse | 16.08.2007 12:50 | Climate Camp 2007 | Climate Chaos | London

To read the news coming out of Climate Camp you'd think it was all doom and gloom. Police blockade roads, supplies have to be carried along the lane, police invade the site, police set up traps and police lead campers into the injunction zone.

There's a thread running here of course, and it's that the cops and their bosses are doing their very best to intimidate the camp and depress the mood.

Well I'm delighted to report they're failing miserably. Everything they throw at us brings us closer together.

Putting the wind up a clown!
Putting the wind up a clown!

It's sunny now, but a lot of stuff needed drying earlier this week
It's sunny now, but a lot of stuff needed drying earlier this week

Most neighbourhoods have their own solar power
Most neighbourhoods have their own solar power

Including indymedia - this is the public access tent
Including indymedia - this is the public access tent

The gentlemen of the press assemble at media hour
The gentlemen of the press assemble at media hour

The sun comes out - and the clowns go forth.
The sun comes out - and the clowns go forth.


Every so often a call goes out: "Heavy supplies arriving, help needed to unload", and there's an immediate rush to the gate to bring hay, gas or whatever is arriving across the site on barrows, in wheelie bins or simply on shoulders.

The incursion of the police on Tuesday (video:  http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/08/378267.html) created the best mood ever - the barrio marquees were simply hopping, with musicians playing, beer flowing and new friendships flowering.

And a spirit of co-operation reigns supreme. You see someone struggling to build a grey water system, you stop to help lift a bath and find yourself helping to finish it a couple of hours later.

It's been more than a bit windy. Some pretty big tents have blown away with the people still inside - but within seconds there's a crowd around diving on to the flapping canvas and heaving it back into place.

The infrastructure is pretty much complete. Fresh water, grey water, toilets, power are all functioning well. Apart from a central kitchen - which was the lifesaver during the set up period - each barrio now has its own kitchen situated in its communal tent. Indymedia has a fully functioning public access tent, as well as video and radio editing tents. We have two satellite dishes and our own (solar and wind) power supplies.

The seminars and workshops are going brilliantly and are well attended. And despite a few glitches from the usual suspects, media coverage of site is very positive, a firm endorsement of the media team's handling of the press.

(They have incidentally made a formal complaint to the Press Complaints Commission about the unsubstantiated, and unsubstantiable lies made by the Evening Standard).

Children are well catered for with a large play tent, with plenty of soft areas for the tired ones to bed down. Entertainments go on all day, the clowns at midday being especially popular (and subversive too - train 'em young :-)

You may be thinking about coming, or you may have been thinking about coming but started feeling nervous...

Well stop that right now and come and join us.

Climate Camp is the best, most friendly, most creative place on the planet right now. We look forward to making you welcome.

mini mouse
- e-mail: mini_mouse@riseup.net

Comments

Display the following 8 comments

  1. Well Done Everyone!! — Kath Bland
  2. Respect to you for putting the details out there! — 1ofThoseWhoWasGettingNervousButWillBeThereNow
  3. GREETINGS FROM SUPPRESSED USA!!! — AZ
  4. Repressed — Dude
  5. Ron Paul Event — RON PAUL
  6. GOOD VIBE — Ozzies
  7. Handy Global Warming Safety Tip — Al Gore
  8. keep up da heet — Clout

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