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Posted By fotdmike on September 5, 2009

Climate Camp welcomes sincere enquirers. Folk that genuinely want to learn about the issues involved, to understand them, and to play their part in actually doing something positive instead of just disparaging those who care enough to make the effort.

Continuing with observations on this year’s Climate Camp at Blackheath, London, 26th August to 2nd September

Setup

To work then. In my case (being part of the Camp Documentation Team; in theory at least, given that we didn’t seem to have fully got our act together. Not knocking that though as my involvement in the preliminary group planning had been practically non-existent) entailing wandering around a bit and grabbing a few pics of the site being set up.

At this stage, notwithstanding the Camp’s pre-announced media policy (an extremely contentious topic about which I have no intention of commenting… not yet at least) there were masses of mainstream media types milling about, such that there were probably more photographers, videographers, and other press people than there were campers!

That’s all right then. Let’s all just take photographs of each other shall we?

One little bit of excitement was the arrival on-site of the cops! Well, two actually. The “Silver Commander” Superintendent Julia Pendry (she of Heathrow Camp fame) and… er… sidekick.

Quickly secreted away in a tent for a sociable chat (complete with cup of tea) with (I presume) the Camp’s Police Liaison Team, said tent had to be guarded by a number of volunteers lest some of the more voluble campers invaded the space and forcibly ejected even this significantly scaled down police presence.
And of course to keep the gathered media types at bay.

Although it was only a handful of campers that were expressing their resentment of “cops on site” in rather colourful language they were undoubtedly giving voice to feelings shared to a greater or lesser extent by many of the folk involved with the Camp.

However, despite the noisy complaints, the meeting passed without incident and the pair left the site, joining a few of their colleagues waiting beyond the now fully erected fencing.

To avoid future unpleasant situations subsequent meetings with Pendry & Co were held in a little area specially set up for such sociable occasions, just outside the Camp’s perimeter.

Come evening and I attend my first Camp meeting.

These Camps are notorious for their meetings; I’m convinced they even have meetings about whether or not to have a meeting.
Meetings, meetings, and yet more meetings. This year though I’ve managed to avoid most of them by virtue of being too busy trying to earn a living.

But this one (fortunately not as large as the one pictured above) was a meeting of the Media Team, of which Camp Documentation was a part (at least, I guessed it was) so no choice really.
Just as well I did for it seemed I was the only photographer present and there were a couple of minor matters re the Documentation Team specifically that needed clarifying.

After that, and with the weather not being especially pleasant (chilly, windy, drizzly), I decided I’d best take myself off into the village to visit the local hostelries.
(Ulterior motives: (a) check out the locals to assess their reaction to our presence, and (b) hunt for food! As regards the latter, found a local chippie whose fare was quite amazingly expensive… but also amazingly tasty!)

Camp Life

As in previous Camps there was no shortage of activities with which folk could engage.

Climate Camps, for the length of their stay, become practically a village in their own right. Definitely a community, and moreover a community that is almost self-sufficient.

Virtually all the infrastructure and services that one would expect to find in a community are there, although obviously there are some that depend upon “the outside”… but that’s simply because the Camps (so far at least) don’t last much longer than a week or so.
Thus they can’t, for example, start growing their own crops for food, or provide their own water, or set up any serious manufacturing etc. But most else (power, communications, communal areas, cinema, kitchens, toilets, legal or medical assistance, and of course site security) is soon established and functioning.

None of this relies upon some hidden or employed workforce but is entirely dependent upon the voluntary involvement of the campers themselves.
Participating in this is a tremendously empowering experience, and a true testament to the ability of folk to work together, side by side very often with complete strangers, in pursuit of a shared objective.
A super lesson also in self-responsibility. Taking responsibility for one’s own actions and environment and not just relying upon someone else for things to simply “get done”. Awesome!

Then there are the workshops. The chance to acquire new skills, or learn about the issues relating to, and the science behind, climate change.

Having returned home, I discovered some of the comments that had been posted on a local (local to Blackheath that is) news website following the setting up of the Camp.

Here’s a few typical examples:

“And will these environmental warriors have the decency to clean up the environment when they leave?….and pigs will fly too!”

and

“Climate change is crap, it isn’t happening. And contary to popular (?) belief the polar ice cap is prety much the same as it was 50 years ago. Some times it melts a bit then it re freezes as its always done. This camp is just another excuse to protest and look ‘cool’ go and do something that will really help your country……..GET A JOB!”

and again

“They probably couldn’t afford to pay for a camping site holiday and thought ‘lets camp on Blackheath Common’. Are toilets going to be set up for them??? or did they bring their buckets?
They probably won’t clean up the rubbish after they have used the area, but whoose [sic] going to clean up the ‘toilet’ remains?? the rats??”

and finally

“Another bunch of middle class gap year students who fancy doing something a bit craaaaazy This is exciting, isn’t it? NOT”

Talk of ill-informed stereotyping and just plain ignorance. Perhaps if such commenters spent less time parading their personal prejudices and utter lack of understanding, making instead some effort to visit a Climate Camp, engage with the campers, and actually learn something about the issues involved they wouldn’t be quite so hasty in making complete fools of themselves by publishing their laughably ridiculous comments.

For that’s the thing y’see.

Climate Camp welcomes sincere enquirers. Folk that genuinely want to learn about the issues involved, to understand them, and to play their part in actually doing something positive instead of just disparaging those who care enough to make the effort.

“Doing something positive”. That’s the other dimension to Climate Camp activities.
Camp life isn’t just about attending to the multitude of practical day-to-day jobs. Its also an opportunity to learn about, and participate in, “direct action”.
Ways to raise awareness of the issues, and ways to put pressure on politicians and corporations.

Campers want to share their skills, their knowledge, their experiences. This sharing is one of the true hallmarks of a Climate Camp, and has been so noticeable at every one I’ve attended. And this most recent, at Blackheath, was no exception.

On top of all that Climate Camp’s also a fun place to be. Generally folk are good-humoured, more open, friendlier. Its an introduction to a different, less oppressive, and probably healthier, lifestyle with a far stronger sense of community and “belonging”.
And, I have to say, despite the many irritations and stresses that can accompany Camp life so too are there highly humourous moments, sprinkled throughout like currants in a bun.

To be continued

Part I | Part III | Part IV

Categories: Campaigns, Cops, Environment
Tags: blackheath, climate camp, london