camp for climate action feedback

bristol | protests | opinion/analysis

Friday August 15, 2008 15:01

by camper - westside

what was achieved

Highlights and lowlights

fencing

For me, whether the camp was a success can only be judged whether we see in the next 12 months an increase in direct action on climate change and social justice in our local area.

However, at the camp two important things happened:

1) we kept the police off site, despite their use of pepper spray (denied, incidentally by Sir Ian Blair) and riot tactics, when there was in fact, no riot. (link to film to follow).

2) Political debate, about where the movement was going. This was initiated by some people who wrote an open letter to the camp wondering whether our message and our radical way organising was being diluted. This debate wasn't concluded, but in miniature can be illustrated by the fact that we went to the trouble of physically defending the site from the state, only for one of the keynote speakers to advocate a stronger state, and indeed, nuclear power.

The day of action was a moderate success, and given the level of police intimidation it was impressive that anyone got over the fence. But Single days of direct action are only useful in terms of what they initiate....and how many people they inspire.

They are dozens of films available through the climate camp website and vision tv, you tube and a couple of westside blogs. links below:

Slide show: http://blip.tv/file/1167973

James' Blog: http://doodznchyx.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/inside-the-k...camp/

Josh's Blog:
http://onthelevelblog.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/a-tasty-...tion/

Vision tv: http://visionontv.info/